Erling Haaland: Manchester City’s goal machine returns from vacation with a robot celebration

Aside from last season’s blemish, in which they failed to lift any major trophy, City have been a relentless winning machine, with six Premier League titles in the past eight seasons, plus a Champions League in 2023.

In Haaland, they have someone who destroys defenses with power, speed and precise finishing.

The 1-0 defeat at Villa Park was City’s first in 10 games, and while they responded with wins over Swansea and Bournemouth, City have not forgotten that defeat.

“I didn’t score in the last game,” Haaland told Sky Sports when asked if he felt unstoppable. “I’m trying to help the team win, that’s my goal.

“Even by scoring, assisting or winning duels, it doesn’t matter as long as we win games. I want to help the team become a better football team, that’s my job.”

Haaland’s numbers this season are at a different level. The only other player to score 13 goals in his first 10 Premier League matches was Les Ferdinand for Newcastle in the 1995-96 season, while Haaland himself managed to score 15 goals in 2022.

He has the highest xG (9.20) in the league without scoring a penalty, while accounting for 65% of City’s goals in the Championship and Champions League – scoring 17 out of 26 goals in the two competitions.

“Giving him chances and passes, that’s what we have to do,” Guardiola added. “He knows that, but we’re so lucky to have, first and foremost, someone who’s amazing because he’s kind and gentle.

“And he will get better. After that, the numbers as a player became great.”

Much has been said about City’s over-reliance on Haaland and the need for other players to ‘step up’ and score more goals.

“Of course you want other people to join, and they will eventually,” journalist Julian Lorenz told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“But I don’t even know what the controversy is about. When you have Haaland and the best striker in the world now, it would be ridiculous to even give anyone else a chance. You want the ball to fall into the penalty area for Haaland 100% of the time.”