Manchester City’s players must step into action to help Erling Haaland end his goal drought, manager Pep Guardiola said on the eve of his team’s crucial Champions League match against Galatasaray.
The Norwegian last scored from the penalty spot against Brighton and Hove Albion in early January, but has not found the net from open play since before Christmas.
Guardiola recently said his star striker, who remains at the top of the Premier League table with 20 goals despite his lean spell, was “exhausted”.
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He left the 25-year-old out of his starting line-up for Saturday’s 2-0 win over bottom club Wolves, explaining the decision was to «clean his mind and his body».
Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday that his team had to “play better” to help Haaland.
“Create more chances and he will score,” he said. “Never underestimate the attackers, the goalscorers, because they will always make you quiet.
“We want him to keep scoring for the rest of his life, that’s for sure.”
The 2023 European champions start the match at the Etihad on Wednesday after last week’s shock 3-1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt.
This left the team eleventh in the Champions League competition phase, among eight teams with 13 points.
Only the top eight teams will progress directly to the round of 16, with the teams finishing between ninth and 24th competing in a two-legged play-off next month.
«I’d rather have more points, but that’s what we deserve,» said Guardiola, whose team is fighting for four trophies. «We have to concentrate and try to win our game and then see where we finish.»
Rodri is suspended for Wednesday’s match after his broadcast in Norway.
Newcomers Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo are both banned from playing in the Champions League until the knockout stages.
Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, John Stones, Savinho and Oscar Bobb remain sidelined with injuries.
Published on January 27, 2026
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