Erling Haaland has once again expressed his frustration with Manchester City following their 2-2 Champions League draw away to AS Monaco, criticising his teammates for what he described as a disappointing second-half display.
The Norwegian striker, who scored twice in the first half to extend his remarkable record in Europe’s elite competition, spoke after the match with frustration rather than joy.
Despite City appearing to have the game under control, a lapse in concentration late on cost them victory, leaving Haaland annoyed at the lack of sharpness in a fixture he felt should have been won comfortably.
City went into the match knowing Monaco were heavily depleted, with Adi Hütter forced to name a side missing eight players through injury and suspension. Even with that advantage, Pep Guardiola’s men failed to fully assert themselves. Haaland gave them the lead early on, only to see Jordan Teze smash home an equaliser.
The 25-year-old quickly restored City’s advantage with a well-timed header from Nico O’Reilly’s cross, but the game turned in the final minutes. A reckless challenge by Nico inside the box gifted Monaco a penalty, which Eric Dier converted to rescue a point for the hosts.
Speaking in his post-match interview with TNT Sports Brazil’s Fred Caldeira, Haaland admitted he was left unhappy by the team’s overall showing. “We didn’t play well enough,” he said. “In the first half we dominated, but it wasn’t as good as it should have been.
That doesn’t make me happy. In the second half we lost control, made silly mistakes, and didn’t create enough chances. We can’t play like that if we want to be at the top.”
Haaland stressed the importance of learning from last season’s European disappointment, when City exited the competition earlier than expected.
He reminded his teammates of the fine margins in the Champions League, saying: “You can’t afford to drop points in this tournament. Every game is difficult, every team is strong. We know this, and we have to do better.”
The draw stretched City’s unbeaten run to six matches in all competitions, but it also highlighted familiar weaknesses that could undermine their ambitions. While Haaland continues to deliver in front of goal, Guardiola’s side still look vulnerable when defensive mistakes creep in.
Attention will now turn to City’s next Champions League outing against Villarreal, a game that already feels crucial if they are to avoid repeating last season’s pitfalls.
Much will depend on how younger players such as Nico O’Reilly and summer signing Tijjani Reijnders continue to settle into the squad. O’Reilly’s assist in Monaco showed promise, but consistency will be vital if City are to progress deep into the tournament.
As Guardiola faces renewed pressure to guide City back to the top of European football, Haaland’s words serve as both a warning and a rallying cry. The striker has made clear that while his goals remain decisive, he expects higher standards from the entire squad if they are to truly compete for the Champions League crown.
