Erling Haaland brands Manchester City's UEFA Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt 'embarrassing' - 'It can't be like this'

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Erling Haaland apologised to Manchester City's fans after the club's sensational 3-1 UEFA Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt. Pep Guardiola's side were out played in Norway, something the forward accepts is not good enough for a team of their calibre. He added he believes it's time for some of the senior pros to stand up as they go in hunt of silverware at the business end of the campaign.

Haaland: Man City need to take ‘more responsibility’ after 'embarrassing' loss

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Manchester City's Erling Haaland has branded the club's UEFA Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt as "embarrassing."

Pep Guardiola's side suffered a second successive loss as they followed their disappointing derby against Manchester United with a dismal 3-1 reverse in Norway.

The defeat is a huge blow to their hopes of reaching the last-16 without the need for a play-off - and it once again led to heavy criticism of a defensive display that left a lot to be desired.

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TNT Sports experts Karen Carney and Joleon Lescott were both critical of how the Cityzens performed.

And Haaland, who missed a huge chance in the first half when he could not quite poke home at the back post, said everyone is to blame.

"We did our best, but there's something that's missing, obviously," he told TNT Sports.

"I take full responsibility, together with Rodri, Tijjani [Reijnders]; us experienced players.

"I don't want to blame anyone, but we need to take more responsibility, because in the end it's not good enough.

"We're Manchester City. We can't go around and not win games. It can't be like this."

Haaland's only one goal in his last eight appearances came in a 1-1 draw against Brighton in early January, and he has since fired blanks in four successive matches.

The 25-year-old, though, has still found the back of the net 39 times for club and country this season.

But his recent form is a minor concern.

Highlights: Man City implode in shock loss to Bodo/Glimt

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"I don't have the answers," he continued. "I take full responsibility for not being able to score the goals I should do.

"I apologise to everyone; every single Manchester City supporter and every single supporter that travelled today.

"In the end, it's embarrassing. Bodo, they played some incredible football, and in the end, it's deserved.

"Honestly, I don't know what to say, because I don't have the answers. What I can say is sorry.

"I don't want to speak about how I feel or whatever. I do my best whenever I'm on the pitch.

"I'm on the pitch quite often because we play a ridiculous amount of games.

"I try to do my best. That's my job. I [will] try to get ready for the next game, because another game is in four days. We have to try and recover again."

"We are missing that"

Pep Guardiola was not too critical of his players, despite a result that means his side have only won two of their last seven games - and one of those was a 10-1 thrashing third-tier side Exeter City.

But the Cityzens are seven points off the pace in the Premier League title race, a position not helped by losing 2-0 to United on Saturday.

Reflecting on their performance in Norway, Guardiola told TNT Sports: "We started off pretty well in many things and we found the spaces.

"The players were incredibly committed, especially 10 against 11 with how they fought.

"But everything is against [us]. For the opposition to score two goals in two minutes, it makes things more difficult.

"We bounced back with the 3-1, but after that it was more difficult, with the red card, to get back."

The man who got sent off was experienced midfielder Rodri, who picked up two bookings within the space of a minute.

It means he will miss the crunch final league phase game against Galatasary next week.

"It's soft, the second one," Guardiola continued. "But it's what it is. He doesn't play the next game and we move forward."

City will likely have to beat the Turkish champions to have any chance of finishing in the top eight and clinching an automatic place in the knockout phase.

Rodri's suspension adds to a growing list of players who are unavailable at the moment.

Guardiola laments 'lack of consistency' after humbling against Bodo/Glimt

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Defenders John Stones and Josko Gvardiol are among those sidelined, with Guardiola conceding his side are short in that area of the field.

It was an issue he highlighted, as it was put to him that perhaps Bodo, playing for the first time in six weeks, were fresher than his City team.

"No," he said. "[It's] The fact that we have a lot of absences, especially at the back.

"The back four always give you consistency. Right now we are missing that."

City were particularly vulnerable on the counter-attack, with Kasper Hogh's quick-fire double before the break giving the hosts a 2-0 lead.

Jens Petter Hauge further stretched the scoreline with a stunner after half-time.

And, although Rayan Cherki pulled one back, things could have been even worse for the visitors, given Bodo hit the bar and had a goal ruled out.

Guardiola continued: "They didn't surprise me. They played the semi-final of the Europa League last season. So they're a top team.

"They played really, really good. It's not about that [adapting to Bodo/Glimt's style]. When you concede two goals so quick, it's more difficult."

Man City squad to refund travelling fans

Manchester City's players are set to refund the 374 fans who travelled north of the Arctic Circle to watch their side's ignominious defeat.

The squad will collectively contribute £9,357 to reimburse the supporters, who paid £25 for a ticket at Bodo/Glimt.

City's captaincy group of Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Haaland said: "Our supporters mean everything to us.

"We know the sacrifice that our fans make when they travel across the world to support us home and away and we will never take it for granted. They are the best fans in the world.

"We also recognise that it was a lot of travelling for the fans who supported us in the freezing cold throughout a difficult evening for us on the pitch.

"Covering the cost of these tickets for the fans who travelled to Bodo is the least we can do."

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