Erling Haaland blasts Manchester City teammates following a subpar season: "It is not nice..."

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has delivered a scathing assessment of his team’s underwhelming 2025 campaign, refusing to sugarcoat their collective failures after a season marred by inconsistency and unmet expectations. The Norwegian powerhouse, whose own ankle injury sidelined him for over a month, dismissed excuses about fitness crises and instead called out his teammates for lacking the ruthlessness required to defend their Premier League crown.

With City 18 points behind champions Liverpool and trophyless outside a potential FA Cup, Haaland’s blunt critique underscores the growing tension at the Etihad.

Erling Haaland’s blunt take on Manchester City’s collapse

In a rare candid interview with BBC Sport, Haaland pulled no punches when dissecting City’s dramatic fall from grace.

“This season has been tough. It is not nice to lose so many games. It is boring and not fun,” he stated, referencing a dismal run of one win in 13 games across all competitions between October and January.

While injuries ravaged the squad—including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri’s ACL tear and defensive instability—Erling Haaland insisted the root cause was deeper:

“We haven’t been stable enough… Every single one of us hasn’t been good enough.”

Key failures highlighted:

Premier League Plummet: City’s 18-point gap to Liverpool marks their worst title defense in the Pep Guardiola era.

Champions League Flop: Failed to automatically qualify for the knockout stages before being ousted by Real Madrid.

Carabao Cup Embarrassment: Fourth-round exit to lower-league opposition.

Injury crisis? “Not an excuse”

Despite losing Rodri in September and Haaland himself for critical fixtures, the 23-year-old rejected claims that absences derailed their season.

“We should not search for excuses… When you are not at your best, you aren’t going to win games in this country,” he argued, emphasizing that City’s star-studded roster should have adapted better.

City’s last shot at redemption

Erling Haaland stressed the importance of salvaging pride in the FA Cup final against Chelsea, calling it “a good habit to reach Wembley” and a chance to avoid a trophyless season. “

In a horrific season, we still managed to do this,” he noted, urging teammates to channel their frustration into one decisive performance.

What’s next for City?

Squad Overhaul: Guardiola faces pressure to revamp an aging core, with midfield creativity and defensive depth top priorities.

Haaland’s Leadership: His public criticism signals a shift toward vocal leadership, a role he’s embraced amid mounting pressure.

Legacy on the Line: Failure to win the FA Cup could intensify scrutiny over Guardiola’s future and Erling Haaland’s patience.

For Haaland, however, the message is clear: Complacency has no place at Manchester City. “That’s why we need to finish well and get a trophy,” he declared. Whether his teammates heed the warning could define their summer rebuild—and his own future in sky blue.