Erling Haaland has admitted his frustration at a lack of delivery from Manchester City teammates towards his runs in behind in recent matches.
The 22 year-old striker has far and away exceeded any expectations in the goalscoring department so far this season, scoring a staggering 32 goals and providing four assists across his 30 appearances for City in all competitions.
Since the turn of the year, Haaland has scored just five goals in seven appearances – which while that is still an exceptional record, does not match the player’s astronomical standards that he sets himself on a personal note.
Many feel that in comparison to the opening months of the ongoing season, Manchester City’s players are not providing the former Borussia Dortmund man with the service that he desires and expects, especially when making runs in behind defences.
That is an issue that Erling Haaland has discussed himself in recent days, in light of the club’s 1-3 away win against Premier League title challengers Arsenal – a match that saw the Norway international notch the third and decisive strike.
Speaking to Amazon Prime Video after the victory at the Emirates Stadium, Haaland said that it is frustrating not to be receiving balls in behind from his Manchester City teammates when such runs are made.
“It’s frustrating. Either the players don’t see me or think it’s another good chance to do something else. It’s up to other players around me. It’s about chemistry. I’ve been here seven months, it’s getting a bit to know each other,” Erling Haaland said.
“Details, we know we’re good players, there’s other things I could have done better. For me, it’s more about in the game (against Aston Villa), I told Rodri, ‘Please look for me in behind’. I said please. I also told Bernardo (Silva) to put it in behind, it didn’t happen but things take time.”
The 22-year-old continued, “When we learn each other proper, the balls will come. I still got a lot of balls. We want crosses and passes all the time.”
Haaland is expected to continue his run of starting matches for Manchester City on Saturday afternoon, when the reigning Champions travel to newly-promoted Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Last time out, in the reverse fixture played out at the Etihad Stadium towards the start of the season, Erling Haaland notched an impressive hat-trick, complimented by a brace from Julian Alvarez and a goal from the now on-loan defender Joao Cancelo.
