BODO – A visibly frustrated Erling Haaland did not hold back after Manchester City’s shocking 3-1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday night. The Norwegian striker, who is currently enduring a rare four-game goal drought, issued a public apology to the traveling fans and called for his teammates to step up during the club’s recent slump.
The loss in Norway has intensified the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side, who have now struggled across both the Premier League and the Champions League in recent weeks.
A Call for Leadership
Speaking after the final whistle, Haaland refused to point fingers at the younger members of the squad, instead placing the burden on City’s core leadership group.
“I take full responsibility along with Rodri, Gigio (Donnarumma), and Tijjani (Reijnders)—the most experienced players,” Haaland declared. “I don’t want to blame anyone else, but we need to take more responsibility. What we are doing right now is simply not enough. We are Manchester City; we can’t keep going in circles without winning games.”
“It’s Embarrassing”
Haaland, who cut a lonely figure upfront for much of the match, was particularly critical of his own lack of clinical finishing. The No. 9 has now gone over 360 minutes without finding the back of the net, a statistic that clearly weighs on him.
“I take responsibility for not scoring goals. I just want to apologize to everyone because it’s embarrassing,” he added, reflecting the somber mood in the City dressing room.
Pressure Mounting on All Fronts
The defeat sees Manchester City slip to sixth place in the Champions League table with 13 points, leaving their direct qualification for the Round of 16 in jeopardy.
Things are equally tense domestically; City currently trail Premier League leaders Arsenal by seven points. Guardiola’s men must now regroup quickly as they prepare to face Wolverhampton this Saturday (24), a match that has now become a “must-win” to prevent a full-blown mid-season crisis.
Defeat in Norway.
🟡 3-1 💚 pic.twitter.com/GhgBecuyG2
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 20, 2026
Thiago Nuno is a football editor and analyst covering European leagues, match statistics, and transfer market trends.
