The Norwegian has been starved of service this season, but has done his best in a team that have fallen way below their usual standards
Erling Haaland has scored at 20 of the 23 English grounds he has played at. The Manchester City striker probably doesn't lose much sleep over the fact he is yet to find the net at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium, although he has unfinished business at the other two.
Haaland has failed to score in three attempts at Anfield, although it is his record at Wembley Stadium which must cause him the most anguish. The Norwegian has played four times at the home of football without scoring, though he will have a fifth opportunity to open his tally under the arch in Saturday's FA Cup final against Crystal Palace.
Or at least, he should. Haaland only returned to action last weekend after six weeks out with an ankle injury and Pep Guardiola admitted after the forward's underwhelming performance in the goalless draw at Southampton that the Norwegian's place in his starting line up at Wembley was not guaranteed. "I'll have one week to think about it. I don’t know. The truth is, it’s been five weeks off," Guardiola said. "He’s a big man and needs maybe a little bit more time."
Haaland's return to the pitch at St Mary’s also coincided with City's five-match winning streak in all competitions coming to a halt, as the result and performance gave more fuel to the argument that City are a stronger side when the Norwegian is not on the field. There are some statistics to back up the claim, too: City have averaged 2.2 goals this season per match without their superstar striker compared to two goals per game when Haaland has started. The same was true last season, when City scored an average of 2.6 goals per game when Haaland was out with a fractured foot, but 2.5 goals when he played.
City were also unbeaten during his recent seven-game absence, winning six times. Meanwhile, 12 of their 14 defeats in all competitions this season have come while Haaland was playing.
But as the saying goes, there are lies, goddamn lies and statistics. Haaland simply has to start the final, and it is up to his under-performing team-mates to step up and provide him with the service he needs to fire City to FA Cup glory.
Getty Images SportNeeds better service
Given Haaland's frightening goal record, it is often a bigger story when he does not find the net than when he does. As such, it came as a major surprise that he did not wet his beak against a Southampton side that had conceded 82 goals in their previous 35 Premier League matches and recorded only two clean sheets all season.
The Norwegian showed good movement and looked hungry to get back amongst the goals, only to be repeatedly let down by his team-mates. Phil Foden sent him a cross that was far too high and sailed over his head, while when Haaland raced behind Southampton's defence along with Jeremy Doku in the second half, the Belgian bungled the pass. Haaland himself played Savinho clean through, but the Brazilian could not finish.
As former Wales captain Ashley Williams put it on : "I think it was a frustrating afternoon for him [and he will] be disappointed. He looked hungry and he needs the service. The quality wasn't there for him and there is not much he can do. He looked sharp and he's only as good as the service he's got."
AdvertisementAFPMassive drop-off
Haaland getting lousy service has been a theme of the season. No City players feature in the Premier League's top 10 for big chances created this season, while only Keving De Bruyne (joint-13th, with 14) has made the top 20, with Savinho (joint-24th, with 11) in the top 30. Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku are equal-39th, with eight apiece.
Most disappointingly, Foden is joint-53rd, having created just seven big chances, as many as Matheus Nunes. Haaland himself has created five, putting him joint-93rd on the list. Ederson, remarkably, has created four, more than Ilkay Gundogan (three) and Jack Grealish (two).
The drop-off from last season, when City won a record fourth-consecutive title, is huge. De Bruyne was joint-second on the list with 21 big chances created despite missing half of the campaign through injury. Bernardo had 13, and Foden 10.
Getty ImagesBest source of goals
The list of Haaland's assist-providers also makes for intriguing reading. He is his joint-biggest provider of his own goals, scoring five times from rebounds or loose balls, with no assist recorded. Nunes and Savinho, meanwhile, are the team-mates to have provided him the most goals, with five each.
Then it is penalties, with Haaland scoring four times from the spot. The only players in addition to Savinho and Nunes who have provided with Haaland more than one assist are Ederson, Rico Lewis and Bernardo.
De Bruyne, his usual provider of assists having set up 20 strikes for Haaland in their first two seasons together, has laid on just a solitary goal for the Golden Boot holder; the same number as each of Foden, Doku, Josko Gvardiol and Nico O'Reilly.
Getty Images SportLetting the side down
Foden, in particular, just has not been linking up with Haaland. The England international has a measly three assists in the Premier League and Champions League combined, compared to 11 last season and six the season before, a campaign in which he struggled with injuries and was not a regular starter.
Foden's lack of goals, 10 this campaign compared to 27 last year when he was named Premier League Player of the Season, is the perhaps the biggest reason why City have had such a poor season, as they sit 18 points off the pace of Premier League winners Liverpool having endured a miserable European campaign having crashed out in the play-off round after finishing 22nd in the League Phase.
De Bruyne's fitness troubles and his subsequent struggles for sharpness until late in the season have also taken their toll, while Guardiola can also take the blame for not adding more players last summer and continuing to trust in the old guard.
