What Pep Guardiola said about Erling Haaland after Man City striker missed nine shots v Chelsea

Pep Guardiola was not concerned by Erling Haaland’s nine missed shots against Chelsea on Saturday, as Manchester City drew 1-1 at the Etihad.

It’s the highest number of efforts the forward has had in a game without scoring for City, and he failed to convert a number of close-range efforts, including a late header from an excellent Kevin De Bruyne cross.

The frustrating evening clearly irked Haaland, who shoved a camera out of his face as he made his way off the pitch, but it’s a feeling not shared by his boss, who was pleased the Norwegian got into the position to take those shots.

"It's good to have nine shots and next time he's going to score," said Guardiola. "I was a football player for 11 years and scored 11 goals. What stats - one goal a season. I'm not a proper man to give advice to strikers.

"We create the chances, he had the chances and next time he's going to score. I don't blame him. It’s football, it’s human beings.

"As a team and a group, the first half was not like we are. The demands are so high because no-one is going to give it to us, we have to do everything. We are Man City so we have to do it for ourselves all the time. From day one I said that.

"We have to improve the first half and the second half was unbelievable, how we played and how we make transitions. In general, it was really good after we conceded."

While Haaland couldn’t find the back of the net, Rodri did when he smashed a shot into the Chelsea goal in the 83rd minute to earn the champions a point. Raheem Sterling had opened the scoring for Chelsea in the first half when he finished off a counter attack to score for the first time against City since departing in 2022.