‘Man City were better without Erling Haaland’ – Didi Hamann makes huge claim as shocking heat map emerges and striker without goal in 2023

01/14/2023 01:12 PM

Dietmar Hamann has sensationally claimed former side Man City were a ‘better team’ WITHOUT Erling Haaland as the striker’s dry spell continued. Haaland was anonymous again as City suffered a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in a pulsating Manchester derby and a game that what was a tale of two strikers. Haaland has looked off it in recent gamesAFP Rashford maintained his stunning red-hot form by netting in his seventh consecutive game for Man UnitedGetty United were inspired by an in-form Marcus Rashford who just cannot stop scoring, with the England man netting in his ninth straight game at Old Trafford after also having a controversial helping hand – or not, according to the referee – in Bruno Fernandes’ equaliser, after Jack Grealish came off the bench to put City in front. It represents a major change of fortunes when compared to Haaland, who started his City career looking absolutely unstoppable, and now looks a bit lost leading Pep Guardiola’s front line. Haaland dominated the headlines before the World Cup by racing to 18 Premier League goals in just 12 outings, including – remarkably – three hat-tricks. But things have not looked so easy for the Norwegian since returning from his break having not played in Qatar. He may have scored three goals to end 2022 in wins over Leeds and Everton, but he is yet to find the net in a dry 2023 so far, with the Manchester derby defeat the third straight game he has failed to score. Rashford, meanwhile, had managed just four league goals before heading off to the World Cup, but has looked transformed since the tournament and has now scored in seven straight games for United – the first player to do that since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. Haaland has now gone three games without scoringGetty Most read in Football Chelsea agree £90m deal to hijack Arsenal bid for Mudryk after Shakhtar troll Gunners Man United 2-1 Man City LIVE: Ten Hag 'dancing' as Rashford leads Red Devils to famous win Aguero has everyone in stitches as ex-Barcelona ace Pique responds to Shakira's diss track 'We're working hard' - Newcastle table offer for Barcelona forward whose future in doubt Rashford was rejected by Man City as a kid for same reason River Plate didn't sign Messi Man United reject Southampton's Scott McTominay enquiry as Ten Hag wants squad strength It’s just not working for Haaland at the moment. The striker has sometimes cut a frustrated figure since his move to the Premier League, with his darting forward runs sometimes going unnoticed by his teammates, but he was even accused of being lazy against United with the striker making almost no impact. Even Grealish’s goal was a bad reflection on Haaland, as it took three minutes for the England midfielder to do what the No.9 could not in 60, as he rose to head in Kevin de Bryne’s cross while the Norwegian could only watch. Haaland’s heat map makes for even worse watching, with the analysis showing his lack of touches across the 90 minutes (19) especially inside the box. The 22-year-old only managed two shots against United and they were both off target. Grealish’s second-half goal was City’s only shot on target in the entire match. That fact alone shows it’s not entirely Haaland’s problem, but there is no doubt his arrival has changed the way City play. No longer is their attacking play spread across a mobile and fluid front-three, instead it is all focused into one central player. And their recent games have shown that if you stop Haaland, you can stop the City juggernaut. Hamann agrees and says that even if Haaland breaks his dry spell and keeps scoring, and even to record levels, City were still a better team before his arrival. How’s that for a hot take? Man City was a better team without Haaland, even if he scores 40 goals this season— Didi Hamann (@DietmarHamann) January 14, 2023 And it appears it’s something the former City and Liverpool midfielder saw coming, having told talkSPORT about the challenge Guardiola was likely to face ace after signing the striker in the summer. Hamann said back in June 2022: “He [Guardiola] likes to play wide players or midfielders up top who like to link play – he’s good with his feet but he’s not as good as a Grealish, or a Foden, or a Sterling who have played up top. “It’ll be interesting to see how they play because you’ve got to feed him, but I don’t think they’ll be able to play the way they used to play because the more direct you play, the more goals he’ll probably get you. “It’s fascinating because last year I said I can see him going anywhere, but not Manchester City because he’s just not a player that Pep Guardiola wants up top. “He’s got him now and maybe he thinks he’s got to change to win the biggest trophy in club football, the Champions League, but how they play remains to be seen.” Keep up to date with all the latest news, rumours and gossip with our LIVE transfer blog