Tijjani Reijnders makes honest Erling Haaland admission after Aston Villa reality check | OneFootball

Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has admitted that his side cannot keep relying on Erling Haaland to bail them out of jail every week.

City’s unbeaten run came to a still at nine games on Sunday as Matty Cash’s stunning 19th minute strike secured all three points for Aston Villa over Pep Guardiola and co at Villa Park, with the visitors dropping to fifth place in the league table.

The Blues went on a two-month unbeaten run and are still expected to mount a genuine title challenge should they keep Haaland fit but Sunday’s display against Villa provided the latest reality check for a side who have gotten too comfortable with their reliance on Haaland.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester after his side’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa, Manchester City and Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders made an honest admission on why his side need to step up to the plate if they are to challenge for the title.

“We cannot rely only on Erling (Haaland for goals) but as long as he scores it helps the team. We all want to score, and we get in good positions and now it’s sometimes waiting to make the goal, but it will come,” Reijnders said.

“We weren’t aggressive enough, especially (in the) first-half, almost lost every duel, gave them too much space to create opportunities, and that was the missing part in the first-half. Second-half was a bit better, but we know we can do much better.

“We started pretty well and then we gave them too much space with our pressure, and then they got the momentum and we lost it. We didn’t create big, big opportunities that we normally do, and we have to work on it and get better.”

The defeat has set City back in the Premier League table but Reijnders has reminded onlookers that the league isn’t won in the autumn. “We know it’s a long journey this season, there are plenty of games coming, and we have to go each game at a time, and nah, we will be there,” the Manchester City summer signing added.

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to six points after their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, with Eberechi Eze netting the winner for the Gunners.

Manchester City cannot afford many more early slip-ups in the title race if they are to challenge Arsenal and title holders Liverpool this term, though the latter are undergoing a rut of form of their own of late.

City next face Swansea in the Carabao Cup fourth-round and Reijnders has stressed on the importance of competing on all fronts this season. “It’s very important. As a football player you want to win as much trophies as possible so this is also an opportunity to win a trophy. Swansea, we have to be ready again,” the midfielder added.

The £45 million acquisition from AC Milan produced an all-time great Premier League debut on the opening day of the 2025-26 season but has since struggled to replicate his heroics from the Molineux Stadium, though Guardiola will be hopeful that Reijnders can help drive Manchester City deeper in the title race this season.