Guardiola: 'Haaland plays the toughest position on the planet'

Coach Pep Guardiola defended star striker Erling Haaland after the Norwegian forward endured another goal-less match in Manchester City's draw against West Ham United.

The Spanish manager stated that Haaland is handling "the most difficult position on the planet," facing intense marking from opposing defenses.

In the 2025–2026 season, Haaland started explosively. The Norwegian striker scored 19 goals in just the first 17 Premier League matches, continuing to demonstrate the fearsome scoring instinct that made him one of the world's top forwards. However, Haaland's scoring form noticeably slowed down in the second phase of the season.

In the last 12 Premier League rounds, the 25-year-old striker has scored only three goals – a figure far below his usual standards. Nevertheless, Guardiola did not blame his player. Instead, he emphasized that opponents are deploying all resources to neutralize Haaland.

The 1-1 draw of Man City at London Stadium clearly illustrated this. Haaland was frequently isolated up front as West Ham deployed a low and tight defensive block. The host team's center-backs and defensive midfielders constantly closed him down, leaving the Norwegian forward almost no space to exploit.

After the match, Guardiola said: "How many center-backs marked him today? Perhaps 200 million. And how many defensive midfielders? This is the toughest position on the planet. So we must create crosses or passes from the wings to deliver the ball there. We always try to do that, but it's never easy. In a season, there are always phases like this, and we have to accept it."

Haaland's declining form has also attracted commentary from experts. Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole noted that Haaland's numbers have fallen to a level rarely seen in his career. In a post-match analysis on TNT Sports, Cole joked that the Norwegian striker "hasn't had stats this low since he was about... seven years old."

With only eight rounds remaining in the season, Man City faces a major challenge in the title race. Guardiola's team currently sits second and trails league leaders Arsenal by 9 points. This means they have almost no margin for error if they wish to defend their Premier League crown.

Before continuing the domestic race, Man City must tackle an even tougher task in Europe. They will enter the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg against Real Madrid at Etihad Stadium, trailing 0-3 from the first leg. To reverse the situation, Guardiola will undoubtedly need Haaland to rediscover the killer instinct that built his reputation.