The Norwegian was ridiculed by the Spanish media after his Champions League no-show, and there is a strong case for him to be left out at the Etihad
One key cultural difference between the Spanish and the English is that our Iberian friends never beat around the bush. And when it comes to criticism, there is no holding back. After Manchester City’s scintillating 3-3 draw at Real Madrid, which was hailed as “the best game in the world” and “a cannonball of a match” by the Spanish media, Erling Haaland was right in the firing line.
Newspaper Marca gave the usually prolific Norwegian hitman a one star rating out of three, describing him as “impotent”, particularly in his one-sided battle with the outstanding Antonio Rudiger. “Rudiger eats Haaland” ran one headline after the striker, who is widely expected to sign for Los Blancos one day, failed to score against Madrid for the third consecutive game.
“Erling Haaland has played two games at the Santiago Bernabeu and left both with the same sensation, of not even being the shadow of the striker who causes panic wherever he goes,” added the article.
AS was even more scathing in its criticism of Haaland. “Clumsy and desperate” was how his performance was summarised by one writer, while another opined: “Only the substitutes participated less than Haaland. The cyborg was deactivated against Rudiger.”
The newspaper was most brutal when it came to rating the players. So bad was Haaland that he didn’t even merit a rating. Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Mateo Kovacic got one star ratings, but next to Haaland’s name was a simple dash. Not applicable.
Just two touches
Haaland could not complain with the brutal write-ups he received. He looked lost for most of the night and had just 20 touches, the fewest of any player who started the game, including the two goalkeepers. He had just one chance, a tame shot comfortably saved by Andriy Lunin.
Rudiger had his number, outmuscling him on every occasion they clashed, while Toni Kroos and Eduardo Camavinga also ensured he couldn’t drop deep and support his team-mates to any effect. The only positive contribution Haaland had over the 90 minutes came when he rushed out to the flank to tackle Vinicius Jr and prevent a Madrid breakaway.
This was not just a one-off though. Despite the fact he is the top scorer in the Premier League again after his record-busting debut season, Haaland has flattered to deceive in the biggest matches, across both campaigns.
He contributed little in either leg of the Champions League semi-final against Madrid and went missing in the final against Inter, as he had also done in the FA Cup final against Manchester United, when Ilkay Gundogan was instead City’s hero.
Impossible to ignore
This season, he has scored just one goal in six Premier League matches against top-five opponents and in the top-of-the-table clashes with Arsenal and Liverpool within the last month, which could determine who wins the nail-biting, three-way title race, he was also anonymous.
Haaland can still be utterly deadly on his day, as he demonstrated by smashing five goals past Luton in the FA Cup less than six weeks ago, proving the difference against Everton, and twisting the knife into Manchester United (no longer a top-five opponent) in the derby.
But it should not be forgotten that Luton and United are among the top-three sides when it comes to leaking shots. Many other teams have begun to work out how to stop Haaland, namely playing with a low block to prevent him from running into space behind.
Haaland’s all-round play has been a talking point for a long time, but his astonishing goal record of 52 goals in 53 games last season was the perfect riposte. But when the goals dry up, as they have started to within the last month, with Haaland scoring just once in his last five appearances in all competitions, his limited play becomes impossible to ignore.
‘Quite useless’
Roy Keane brutally compared Haaland’s overall play to that of a League Two striker after the draw against Arsenal, and former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart also savaged the Norwegian after his Madrid no-show.
“Erling Haaland was very bad. If he doesn’t score, he’s quite useless,” the former Madrid midfielder told Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport. “I find him a very average player on the ball”.
Haaland is still an asset to City, capable of astonishing goal hauls. But in the toughest games, there is an argument that they would be better off without him.
Time for the bench?
City routinely lost the ball against Madrid, and one of the reasons was that they resorted to long balls towards Haaland, which kept getting intercepted. When it did reach Haaland, Rudiger continually shrugged him off and Madrid would regain possession. Haaland lost the ball seven times on Tuesday, and couldn’t complete a single dribble.
Having the Norwegian up front on his own, looking to feed off scraps in the area, leaves City with one man fewer in their build-up play. And there is a growing case for Pep Guardiola to drop him for the second leg against Madrid at the Etihad Stadium.
Alvarez offers more control
Starting with Julian Alvarez over Haaland in the second leg would give City a better chance of controlling the game and preventing Madrid from storming forward on the counter-attack, as they did so often at the Bernabeu. The nimble Argentine would also be a different type of challenge for Rudiger, and give City more chances of opening up Madrid’s defence.
And if the game is not going to plan after an hour or so, they could always bring on Haaland to try and break Los Blancos down, when he would be fresh and the visitors worn down.
Bite the bullet
Dropping Haaland for such a big game would be a huge statement from Guardiola and would undoubtedly risk harming his relationship with the striker. And yet the coach is one of the few personalities in football with the authority to make such a move.
If benching Haaland is the best route to beating Madrid and reaching the Champions League semi-finals – and there is a growing case that it is – then Guardiola should bite the bullet and do so.