ESPN pundit Craig Burnley believes one player is actually sometimes a ‘victim’ of the way Manchester City play football.
City drew 3-3 with Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday night at the Bernabeu.
Pep Guardiola will be fairly pleased with the result having had some key players unavailable for the game. Real Madrid also took the lead in the game, with City not at their brilliant best.
Although City did end up scoring three goals, it was a struggle at times in and around the final third – and it was a very quiet night indeed for Erling Haaland.
Closely marked by Antonio Rudiger, who had talked up the battle ahead of the game, the Norwegian just didn’t have an impact at all.
Steve McManaman expressed his sympathy for Haaland, whom he felt showed ‘excellent’ movement, and now Burley has claimed he is actually a victim of City’s style of play…
Craig Burley explains why Erling Haaland is sometimes a victim in the Manchester City team
Haaland has just 20 touches in the first leg with Real Madrid according to Sofascore.
The 23-year-old did make runs throughout the contest, but there seemed to be a reluctance from those around him to pick him out.
He seemed to miss Kevin De Bruyne, who missed the clash having fallen ill just before the game.
Speaking in a new video for ESPN FC, Burnley expressed some sympathy for Haaland, branding him a ‘victim’. He said: “It think he’s a victim, and it’s a consequence of the way they play.
“There’s been times this year, particularly the Arsenal game, where his first touch and his link-up hasn’t been the best, we get that. But I do, in a sense, feel it’s not short of him trying to make runs and get in good positions.
“It’s the fact that sometimes they go back and to the side and then Foden comes into that little space, and then Haaland has to make a move to take some defenders away. I don’t think he’s getting on the ball as much as he’d like but I think that’s a consequence of the way, at times, Manchester City play.”
Haaland knows the score
Burley has a point, but then you also have to look at Haaland’s record since he has been at City.
He has scored 82 goals in 90 games, which is just a phenomenal record. And we know that the £51 million signing does miss a fair few chances, and that tally could be even better.
Every now and then, there are games where City just struggle to provide him with the right service.
It’s difficult to see how he can be a ‘victim’ of City’s style of play when his goalscoring record is so good and he has already won five trophies since signing. But certainly when you see him have games such as against Arsenal and Real Madrid and he just doesn’t get any chances at all, then you can perhaps make that argument.