Manchester City’s rough patch, with just one win in their last eight Premier League games, is a team issue and not the fault of a single player, said manager Pep Guardiola. The spotlight has been on Erling Haaland, but Guardiola defended the striker, emphasizing that the whole squad shares responsibility.
City is currently seventh in the league, trailing leaders Liverpool by 12 points. This slump has coincided with Haaland scoring only twice after an explosive start of 10 goals in the first five games. However, Guardiola dismissed the idea that Haaland is the problem.
“It’s about the whole team, not just one player,” Guardiola stated during a press conference ahead of their Thursday match against Everton.
“When we were scoring a lot and Haaland was helping us, it was because the team worked together. If we have problems in defense or midfield, it’s everyone’s responsibility. If it was just one player, fixing it would be easy. Erling is crucial for us and will continue to be. We just need to play better as a team and utilize him more effectively.”
Guardiola also revealed uncertainty over the availability of key players John Stones, Matheus Nunes, and Ederson. Despite their poor form, the coach remained confident that the team could bounce back soon.
“There’s always speculation, people say we don’t run or fight enough. But it’s not just one reason. Small and big details combined have made us less effective. We have another chance on Boxing Day to improve, and over time, we’ll get better,” he said.
Although Everton sits 15th in the table, 11 points behind City, Guardiola praised their defensive setup under manager Sean Dyche. Everton has kept five clean sheets in their last six games, showcasing strong defensive form.
“Sean Dyche’s teams are always well-organized defensively and have clear patterns in attack. They’ve managed good results against big teams like Arsenal and Chelsea. Their transitions, long balls, and set-pieces make them very strong,” Guardiola added.
City’s players will spend some time with their families over Christmas but remain focused on their Boxing Day clash.
“We’re training today and tomorrow night. After some time with their families in the morning, the players will regroup for preparations. This is our job, and it’s part of our commitment,” Guardiola concluded.
