Despite exceptional statistics, Manchester City center forward Erling Hland sometimes has difficulty integrating into the Skyblues collective. Invisible against RB Leipzig (1-1) on Wednesday in the Champions League, the Norwegian can however feel supported.
Erling Hland did not shine in Leipzig.
32 goals and 4 assists in 32 games in all competitions this season. As much to say it right away, Erling Hland represents rather a good problem to have for Manchester City.
However, despite his exceptional statistics, the Norway international is still the subject of criticism in England for a very specific reason: his difficulties adapting to manager Pep Guardiola’s system.
Hland, a Leipzig ghost…
Because on the collective level, the ex-talent of Borussia Dortmund has seriously struggled to integrate into the collective game of the reigning English champion. Too often isolated and cut off from the ball, he even finds himself judged incompatible with the precepts of the Spanish technician. On Wednesday, the native of Leeds thus crossed the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League on the lawn of RB Leipzig (1-1) like a ghost.
His record? 22 balls touched over the whole game, including 4 in the area. At the break, the finding was even more worrying with only 7 balls touched in the first period… A situation all the more worrying as the Citizens had almost total control of the leather over the first 45 minutes. Not 3/10 by the editorial staff of Maxifoot (see Dbrief and Notes here), Hland was clumsier in the second act during his rare attempts…
Guardiola and Mahrez defend him
Contest, the Scandinavian can at least feel supported internally. Rather than pointing fingers, the City coach has shown a desire to put him in better conditions. It is 100% adapted to Manchester City. We need to find him more in the game, and pass the ball to him, claimed Guardiola. For his part, Skyblues winger Riyad Mahrez put the situation into perspective.
Erling never touched many balloons. He’s a ‘real’ striker, he’s there to finish. The manager wants him to be more in the game, yes, but he remains a fast, powerful striker who scores goals. It’s not up to him to win… Afterwards, he still had a chance or two in the first period, he disturbed the opposing defense, claimed the Algerian, very protective, on Canal +. Chouchout, Hland has no reason to doubt.
What do you think of Erling Hland’s Manchester City situation? Do not hesitate to react and discuss in the area add a comment …
