Manchester City: Erling Haaland takes it hard

Last season, Erling Haaland achieved almost everything. Recruited by Manchester City, the Norwegian was a success and finished the previous year with 52 goals and 9 assists in 53 matches in all competitions. Rewarded individually, since he notably won the title of best player in the English championship, he also added to his list of achievements including the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League. Second during the Ballon d'Or ceremony, the striker, who hoped for better, started a new year with the Skyblues.

But everything does not go as well as during his first exercise. Obviously, Haaland continues to be a formidable scorer. For the moment, he has 29 goals and 6 assists in 33 appearances in all competitions. Which is a very good result. But the 23-year-old has already been injured several times this season. He missed 61 days of competitions and 12 club matches according to the specialist site transfermarkt. In addition to his physical glitches, he was sometimes less impressive and imperial than last year, when he exploded everything in his path.

A complicated match

Yesterday, he had the opportunity to set the record straight during the Premier League clash against Arsenal. A shock which was only the name in the end because we witnessed a soporific encounter, to say the least. Starting at the forefront of the attack, Haaland did not really shine. THE Daily Mail gave it a rating of 6 and added the following comment: 'good when he's involved. But not involved enough and couldn't get by on a late chance.” Same observation for the Guardianwho gave it a 5 and who mentioned “a missed golden opportunity“.

Same note for the Manchester Evening Newswho clarified: one of those most frustrating afternoons. “He had a difficult headed chance at the end of the first half, but not even a sniff of a goal other than that.” In addition to his performance, the player's attitude also surprised. “Erling Haaland usually lets his football do the talking and goals are his mother tongue. However, the former Borussia Dortmund player had to feed on scraps and instead tried to put City through by exhibiting an unfamiliar trait – trash talk – even though it wasn't entirely his fault.”

A shower of criticism

THE MEN continues: “he clashed with the in-form Gabriel, crushing the Arsenal defender (accidentally) before making verbal remarks. William Saliba, during the match and at the final whistle, and Gabriel Jesus also clashed with Haaland so that he responded with some heated words. Strong words, several consultants uttered after the player's exit against the Gunners. “He’s never played football before.”said Gary Neville after the player's missed opportunity.

Roy Keane was much cashier. “His overall level of play is so bad, and not just today. I think his attacks, his headers or anything in terms of in front of goal are the best in the world. But for his overall level of play for such a player he is so bad, not just today, I think he needs to improve. He's almost like a League Two (English D4) player. That's how I see it. His overall game needs to improve and it will over the next few years. There have been brilliant and fantastic strikers. But he needs to improve his overall level of play.” Hero of City last year, Haaland is facing a lot of criticism now.