Pep Should Consider Dropping 'Clumsy' Haaland for Second Leg Against Madrid

A notable cultural contrast between the Spanish and English lies in their directness. Unlike their Iberian counterparts, the English tend to be more circumspect. In matters of criticism, the Spanish hold nothing back. Following Manchester City's electrifying 3-3 draw against Real Madrid, lauded as "the best game in the world" and "a cannonball of a match" by Spanish media, Erling Haaland found himself squarely in the crosshairs.

Marca, the newspaper, awarded the typically prolific Norwegian striker a mere one-star rating out of three, labeling him as "ineffective," particularly in his lopsided duel with the exceptional Antonio Rudiger. "Rudiger dominates Haaland," screamed one headline, as Haaland, widely anticipated to join Los Blancos one day, failed to find the net against Madrid for the third consecutive encounter.

"Erling Haaland has now played two matches at the Santiago Bernabeu and departed both times with the same sense—of not even resembling the striker who instills fear wherever he goes," the article lamented.

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AS was even more scathing in its assessment of Haaland. Described as "awkward and desperate" by one commentator, another remarked, "Only the substitutes were less involved than Haaland. The cyborg was rendered inert against Rudiger."

The publication's player ratings were particularly harsh. Haaland's performance was deemed so poor that he didn't even warrant a rating. While Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, and Mateo Kovacic received one-star ratings, Haaland's name was followed by a simple dash—deemed not applicable.

Just two touches

Haaland couldn't dispute the scathing critiques he received. He seemed adrift for the majority of the match, registering just 20 touches—the fewest of any player who started, even the two goalkeepers. His lone chance, a feeble shot easily saved by Andriy Lunin, epitomized his lackluster performance.

Rudiger consistently outmuscled him, while Toni Kroos and Eduardo Camavinga effectively stifled any attempt by Haaland to drop deep and support his teammates. The only notable contribution Haaland made throughout the 90 minutes was a defensive effort when he hurried out to the flank to thwart Vinicius Jr and prevent a potential Madrid counterattack.

This wasn't an isolated incident. Despite leading the Premier League in scoring once again after his record-breaking debut season, Haaland has consistently fallen short in high-stakes matches across both campaigns.

He made minimal impact in either leg of the Champions League semi-final against Madrid and was virtually invisible in the final against Inter, a trend that persisted in the FA Cup final against Manchester United, where Ilkay Gundogan emerged as City's hero instead.

Impossible to ignore

This season, Haaland has managed only one goal in six Premier League matches against top-five opponents. In crucial clashes against Arsenal and Liverpool, pivotal in determining the outcome of the tightly contested title race, he remained inconspicuous.

Nevertheless, Haaland's lethal ability remains undeniable, as evidenced by his five-goal haul against Luton in the FA Cup less than six weeks ago. He also proved pivotal against Everton and inflicted damage upon Manchester United (no longer a top-five opponent) in the derby.

However, it's important to note that both Luton and United rank among the top three teams in terms of conceding shots. Many teams have adapted their tactics to neutralize Haaland, often employing a low defensive block to negate his ability to exploit space behind the defense.

While Haaland's overall game has long been a topic of discussion, his remarkable goal-scoring record of 52 goals in 53 games last season served as a compelling rebuttal. However, with his recent scoring drought, having found the net just once in his last five appearances across all competitions, his limitations in other aspects of play have become increasingly evident.

'Quite useless'

Following the draw against Arsenal, Roy Keane delivered a scathing comparison of Haaland's overall performance to that of a League Two striker. Additionally, former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart didn't hold back in his criticism of the Norwegian after his lackluster display against Madrid.

"Erling Haaland was very poor. If he doesn't find the net, he's rather ineffective," van der Vaart expressed to Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport. "I consider him a very mediocre player when in possession of the ball."

Despite Haaland's potential for remarkable goal-scoring feats, his effectiveness in the toughest matches comes into question. There's an argument that Manchester City might fare better without him in such crucial encounters.

Time for the bench?

City frequently surrendered possession against Madrid, partly due to their reliance on long balls aimed towards Haaland, many of which were intercepted. Even when Haaland received the ball, he struggled to hold off Rudiger, leading to Madrid regaining possession. Haaland lost possession seven times during the match and failed to complete a single dribble.

Deploying Haaland as the lone striker, solely relying on him to capitalize on limited opportunities in the box, leaves City lacking an additional player in their buildup play. As such, there is a growing argument for Pep Guardiola to consider dropping him for the second leg against Madrid at the Etihad Stadium.

Alvarez offers more control

Opting to start Julian Alvarez over Haaland in the second leg would offer City a higher likelihood of dictating the pace of the game and thwarting Madrid's frequent counter-attacks, a vulnerability exposed at the Bernabeu. The agile Argentine would present a unique challenge for Rudiger and increase City's prospects of penetrating Madrid's defense.

Furthermore, if the match doesn't unfold as planned after an hour or so, City could introduce Haaland to inject fresh energy and exploit a potentially fatigued Madrid side, maximizing their chances of breaking down the visitors' defense.

Bite the bullet

Deciding to bench Haaland for a crucial match would undoubtedly send a significant message from Guardiola and could potentially strain his relationship with the striker. Nevertheless, Guardiola's stature in the football world affords him the authority to make such bold decisions.

If sidelining Haaland is deemed the optimal strategy for defeating Madrid and progressing to the Champions League semi-finals—an argument that is gaining traction—then Guardiola should demonstrate the necessary conviction and make the tough call. Ultimately, prioritizing the team's success over individual considerations is paramount in elite-level football.

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