Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said his players must raise their level to help Erling Haaland end a prolonged spell without goals, as the English champions prepare for a decisive Champions League match against Galatasaray.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s league-phase fixture at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola said the responsibility for Haaland’s recent struggles does not lie solely with the striker but with the team’s overall performance.
The Norway forward has not scored from open play since before Christmas and last found the net in early January, converting a penalty against Brighton. Despite the dry spell, Haaland remains the Premier League’s leading scorer with 20 goals.
Guardiola recently described the 25-year-old as “exhausted” and left him out of the starting line-up for Saturday’s 2–0 league win over Wolves, explaining the decision was intended to refresh both his body and his mindset.
Ahead of the Galatasaray match, Guardiola said City need to improve their creativity in attack. “We have to play better,” he said. “Create more chances and he will score. Never underestimate strikers and goalscorers — they always come back.”
He added that the club remains fully committed to Haaland’s long-term success. “We want him scoring for the rest of his life, that’s for sure,” Guardiola said.
City enter the match under pressure following a surprise 3–1 defeat away to Bodo/Glimt last week, a result that left the 2023 European champions 11th in the Champions League league-phase table. They are currently among eight teams tied on 13 points.
Under the new format, only the top eight teams qualify automatically for the round of 16. Clubs finishing between ninth and 24th will face a two-legged play-off next month to secure a place in the knockout stage.
“I would prefer to have more points, but it is what we deserve,” Guardiola said. “Now we focus on winning our game and then see where we finish.”
City will be without Rodri, who is suspended following his red card in Norway. January signings Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo are also unavailable, as they are not eligible for Champions League selection until the knockout rounds.
The squad is further stretched by injuries, with Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, John Stones, Savinho and Oscar Bobb all sidelined.
With qualification still within reach but far from guaranteed, Wednesday’s match represents a key test of City’s depth, resilience and attacking cohesion — and a crucial opportunity to reignite Haaland’s scoring form on the European stage.
