Pundit left baffled by Erling Haaland development at Man City – ‘you have to be joking’
Erling Haaland is not to blame amid fresh criticism of Man City their ailing title chances.
That’s according to former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the 22-year-old’s form.
Haaland’s fourth hattrick of the season sealed a 3-0 win over Wolves on Sunday (22 January).
Those goals mean the Norway international has scored 25 Premier League goals in 19 appearances this season.
With City struggling to catch Arsenal at the top of the table, it has been suggested that City have got worse since Haaland joined the club.
McManus insists this isn’t the case.
“You have to be joking? Have you seen the number of goals he’s scored?” McManus told Football Insider‘s Ben Wild.
“Haaland is outstanding. He has been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League and, of course, he has scored a load of goals.
“He is ripping it up and he could get 40 goals this season, he’s done what everyone has expected him to do. He is not the issue.
“The issue is the defence. Going forward City can score at will. But at the back, they don’t have that right blend at the minute.
“They are conceding sloppy, sloppy goals that you never used to see from City. That’s where the problem is. How can you have a go at a guy who is going to break all of the goalscoring records this season?
“Guardiola needs to sort the defence, not attack.
“How can you blame Haaland?”
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