Manchester, Dec 24 (NationPress) Pep Guardiola has linked Erling Haaland’s recent struggles to the team's insufficient creativity, asserting that Manchester City must utilize him more effectively.

The Norwegian striker, who has clinched the Golden Boot in his first two seasons in England, began his third season with City in impressive form. His run included hat-tricks against Ipswich and West Ham, making him the first player to score 10 Premier League goals in the first five matches of the season. However, the defending champions’ recent tough stretch has coincided with Haaland managing to score only twice in his last eight league games.

During his press conference on Christmas Eve, Guardiola dismissed the notion that Haaland needs improvement, instead emphasizing the need for the team to enhance its build-up play and create more chances for the No. 9.

“It’s about us, not just one player. In the past, when we were scoring goals and Erling was prolific, it was because of the entire team. When we face issues defensively and in midfield, it’s a collective problem. It’s not solely about one individual. If it were just one player, identifying the issue would be straightforward. It’s more complex than that,” Guardiola explained.

“Erling is crucial for us, has been significant, and will continue to be important, and we must utilize him better,” he added.

Manchester City has secured only one victory in their last twelve matches. As they prepare for the Boxing Day early match against Everton, Guardiola noted that his players are giving their all despite the recent outcomes.

“This situation is novel for all of us. It’s about everyone working together. The players are putting in more effort than ever. People claim we aren’t running or fighting; it’s this player or that manager - but it’s not about that. It’s about various small details or some significant aspects that have caused us to not perform as well as we used to. Nevertheless, we have another chance on Boxing Day. We have players returning, and at some point, we will improve,” he concluded.