Erling Haaland Claims Manchester City Have Fallen Short in ‘Dismal Season’

For Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, reaching a third consecutive FA Cup final while vying for Champions League qualification doesn’t suffice. He labelled the club’s season as “horrific” following their failure to secure a fifth consecutive Premier League title.

In an interview with BBC Sport published on Thursday, Haaland, who has recently extended his contract with City until 2034, stated that the players had not performed to standard.

“It’s great to have the habit of reaching Wembley, and winning trophies is always crucial. Despite what has been a horrific season, we still managed to achieve this, which reflects a lot,” Haaland remarked.

“Having won four league titles in a row, not claiming a fifth makes it feel like a failure. Those are the benchmarks we’ve established. Our performance in the league hasn’t been good enough, but we’re still hopeful for Champions League qualification.”

City, who face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday, currently sit fourth in the league with two matches remaining, two points ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea as they aim for a top-five finish to guarantee a spot in next season’s Champions League.

“This season we’ve lacked stability… We’ve certainly experienced our fair share of injuries, but we shouldn’t look for excuses,” said the 24-year-old.

“Each of us has to admit that we haven’t been good enough, and when you’re not at your best, winning matches in this league is incredibly tough.”

Norway international Haaland, who has netted 21 goals in the league this season, also had to miss a month due to an ankle injury he sustained in March.

“Getting injured has been dreadful. It’s difficult to watch the team play, but you have to make the most of it and aim to return as quickly as possible,” he commented.

“I’m really pleased to be back. I’ve got a lot of energy.”