Guardiola is helpless and facing a bottleneck: Manchester City dropped 6 points in 3 rounds, falling behind in the title race; Haaland has only scored 1 penalty in 4 games and has been invisible with low ratings.

In the tight January Premier League fixtures featuring back-to-back weekly matches, Guardiola’s Manchester City slipped up once more. In the 21st round, City was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Brighton, resulting in three straight league draws. This equates to 6 dropped points over the last three games, leaving City 5 points behind Arsenal at the top despite having played earlier. While City fans hoped Arsenal would falter like in previous seasons, it was City who stumbled first — three times in a row. It’s fair to say City’s title challenge has seriously faltered, leaving Guardiola feeling helpless and stuck. Haaland has managed just one penalty goal in four Premier League rounds, remaining largely invisible with low ratings across all four matches.

In the 21st round of the Premier League, Manchester City drew 1-1 with Brighton! Haaland started and played the full match, scoring a penalty earned by De Bruyne. He had the most shots on target in the game with 8 attempts, 4 on target, but after missing key chances, he faded during open play. Post-match, Haaland received a relatively low rating of 6.8.

In the 20th round of the Premier League, Manchester City drew 1-1 with Chelsea! Haaland started and played the entire match but was ineffective. He took the most shots in the game with 5 attempts, only one on target. After the match, Haaland was given a low rating of 6.9.

In the 19th round of the Premier League, Sunderland and Manchester City played a goalless draw! Haaland started and played the full game but was quiet. He only managed 2 shots, with one on target. He received the lowest rating of the entire match at 6.2, including all starters and substitutes from both teams.

In the 18th round of the Premier League, Nottingham Forest lost 1-2 to Manchester City! Haaland started and played the full match but was ineffective again. He took only 2 shots and had none on target. After the game, Haaland earned a low rating of 6.4.

Manchester City dropped 6 points in 3 rounds, and Haaland has been ineffective in open play across 4 matches with consistently low ratings. This suggests that although Haaland appears prolific in scoring, most of his goals come against weaker opponents or in games where City is already leading. Goals in tough matches or comebacks are rare, especially in physically intense games where Haaland tends to struggle. Valued at 200 million euros, tied for the highest in football, Haaland has improved his heading this season, but his weaknesses are clear: poor ability to hold the ball with his back to goal, limited playmaking skills, and lack of ball progression. On the other hand, his long legs and speed suit counterattacking, but City’s style often involves breaking down tight defenses. Compared to 40-year-old Ronaldo, Haaland’s positioning, movement, and heading are surprisingly inferior.

Guardiola is also frustrated as City hits a bottleneck. Alvarez, known for his long shots and free kicks, could be a key weapon to break down dense defenses, but Guardiola cannot guarantee his starting spot. This situation led to the departure of a World Cup-winning main striker, who joined Atletico Madrid, resulting in a lose-lose for both Alvarez and City. The 75 million euro signing from the Bundesliga, Malmoush, has become an expensive substitute. Guardiola’s transfer strategy over the past two years has been chaotic. For breaking down tough defenses, De Bruyne remains the only breakthrough option. Although Shelvey can create chances, his pace is too slow. Haaland’s shortcomings as a central striker have contributed to City’s sudden drop after three consecutive draws in the Premier League title race. The Blues face the grim prospect of ending two consecutive seasons empty-handed. Rumors about Guardiola leaving this summer might not be baseless, as his Manchester City is clearly encountering a major bottleneck.