Haaland admits confidence is waning

There are chinks in the armour never seen before at City under Guardiola and Erling Haaland conceded belief within the squad is low.

After the game: “Of course, [confidence levels are] not the best. We know how important confidence is and you can see that it affects every human being. That is how it is, we have to continue and stay positive even though it is difficult.”

Haaland, with 76 goals in 83 Premier League appearances since joining City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, had one shot and one touch in the Villa box.

His 18 touches in the whole game were the lowest of all starting players and he has been self critical, despite scoring 13 goals in the top flight this season.

Over City’s last eight games he has netted just twice though, but Guardiola refused to criticise his star striker.

He said: “Without him we will be even worse but I like the players feeling that way. I don’t agree with Erling. He needs to have the balls delivered in the right spots but he will fight for the next one.”

Afterwards Guardiola was calm, so much so it was difficult to hear him in the news conference, a contrast to the frustrated figure he cut on the touchline.

He said: “It depends on us. The solution is bring โปรโมชั่น ufabet the players back. We have just one central defender fit, that is difficult. We are going to try next game – another opportunity and we don’t think much further than that.

“Of course there are more reasons. We concede the goals we don’t concede in the past, we [don’t] score the goals we score in the past. Football is not just one reason. There are a lot of little factors.

“Last season we won the Premier League, but we came here and lost. We have to think positive and I have incredible trust in the guys. Some of them have incredible pride and desire to do it. We have to find a way, step by step, sooner or later to find a way back.”