Guardiola backs Haaland revival, hints at potential January signings

Pep Guardiola has expressed confidence in Erling Haaland's ability to rediscover his goal-scoring form, provided Manchester City improve their overall performance.

The City manager also left the door open for potential reinforcements during the January transfer window, a move the club has rarely resorted to under his stewardship.

City are in the midst of an alarming dip in form, with just one win and eight defeats in their last 11 matches across all competitions.

This uncharacteristic slump has seen Haaland, who was instrumental in City's four consecutive Premier League titles, struggle for chances. The prolific striker has managed only one goal in his last five appearances.

Despite this, Guardiola dismissed the idea of reverting to the 'false nine' system that served City well in the past, insisting on his commitment to Haaland.

"I prefer to play with Erling," Guardiola said ahead of City's trip to Aston Villa on 21 December. "The idea of not playing him hasn't even crossed my mind. In the past, I used a false nine because of the specific qualities of the players we had then, but now we have Erling, and we must adapt to him."

Guardiola highlighted the team's collective performance as the key to Haaland's struggles.

"He's fine, but the way we're playing hasn't been creating as many chances as before," he admitted. "When he's surrounded by two, three, or even four central defenders, it's tough for him. We need to improve our play to create the spaces he needs."

Historically, City have been cautious about entering the January transfer market during Guardiola's eight-year tenure, with Aymeric Laporte's 2018 signing being a rare exception.

However, the manager acknowledged that the current circumstances might necessitate a change in approach.

"We'll see," Guardiola said regarding potential signings. "We've never been big fans of the winter market, but this season has been unusual. If there's an opportunity, we'll consider it. If not, we'll wait until the summer."

City will be hoping for a turnaround in fortunes as they prepare for the Villa Park clash, with Guardiola counting on his squad to rediscover their rhythm.