A key player for Manchester City simply has to snap out of the funk he is in | OneFootball

As Manchester City went down to a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu last night in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie, there weren’t many City players who came out of the match having played well. Jeremy Doku toiled away on the left wing and was arguably City’s best player on the night. Abdukodir Khusanov toiled away at right-back/centre-back, but it did feel like he was playing a lone hand at the back at times. Too many City players were off their game, as Pep Guardiola’s team selection did appear to completely throw off Manchester City’s rhythm. One player who was off his game last night was Erling Haaland. Haaland looks well off his game at the moment, and his team desperately needs him to improve.

Erling Haaland looked off his game at the Bernabeu as he was against Nottingham Forest.

As mentioned above, no Manchester City played well against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Erling Haaland wasn’t alone in the boat. Focusing solely on Haaland’s performance last night, the Norwegian international couldn’t get into the game at all. Haaland spent too long on the periphery of proceedings. Part of that was caused by Manchester City’s poor performance. Playing as a striker in a team that is well off their best is no easy task. That stood out last night. Having said that, Haaland’s performance can’t solely be pinned on his team’s poor performance.

In the first 20 minutes of last night’s match, Jeremy Doku played several teasing balls across the Real Madrid penalty area. No Manchester City player was on hand to tap those in. Haaland should have been there. When Haaland is in form and sharp, he is on hand to tap those in. At the moment, he isn’t. On several other occasions last night, Haaland made runs in behind the Real Madrid defence when his teammates ran at a stretched Real Madrid defense. But the ball to Haaland was never played. All of that combined to see Haaland put in an ineffectual performance last night.

Also, Haaland didn’t seem up for the physical battle against Antonio Rudiger and the Real Madrid defence. My first thought was that perhaps Haaland isn’t fully fit. If that’s the case, he shouldn’t be starting. Haaland had a similar performance against Nottingham Forest in City’s 2-all draw at the Etihad a week ago. Erling Haaland isn’t at his best right now, and that is the major issue.

Manchester City need Erling Haaland to lift and snap out of his funk.

Erling Haaland has scored four goals in his past seventeen appearances. Two of those have come from the penalty spot. Haaland is nowhere near his best right now. He has had one good overall performance recently against Newcastle in Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Newcastle at the Etihad, but Haaland has been a shadow of himself at his best for some time now. Seventeen games isn’t a small sample size. It is a sustained run of matches to analyze. Simply put, Haaland isn’t playing at an acceptable level. As this season reaches a pivotal point, City need Haaland to lift; it is as simple as that.

Manchester City need Haaland to lift. If Haaland is exhausted or not fully fit, he needs to come off the bench. City can’t carry him through this tough run of fixtures. Also, Haaland needs service to thrive, but he also needs to get himself up for the battle, like he was against Newcastle at the Etihad a few weeks ago. Pep Guardiola’s side needs their star striker to lift. There is no other way to put it. The goals have dried up for the Norwegian international, and his overall performances have dipped.

Manchester City face West Ham this weekend at the London Stadium in a massive Premier League fixture. Erling Haaland has traditionally played well and scored goals at the venue. Hopefully, this weekend is the one where Haaland snaps out of his slump. His team needs him; it is as simple as that.