‘We don’t have to complain about Erling Haaland!’ – Kevin De Bruyne defends Man City striker after drop off in goals output

Kevin De Bruyne believes Man City should not be concerned about Erling Haaland scoring fewer goals than during his blistering stat to the season.

Haaland has scored only three goals in his last nine matches in all competitions, a big drop off from when he netted 13 times in his opening eight competitive games.

“There is always a first part of the season and a second part. I feel in the second part there is a lot more going on. Teams are more well organised. They play for more also, at both ends of the table.

“So I feel people are more prepared in every sense of the way,” De Bruyne told a press conference. “Maybe he was also a little bit more prolific when he got the chances, but I don’t feel as if we have to complain about the output of Erling in any way.”

Haaland scored a penalty in City’s scrappy 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday, his 28th Premier League goal of the season and his 34th in all competitions, from 34 games.

“I think he is fine. In the Crystal Palace game he had maybe two or three chances and if he scored two I don’t think there is any issue,” added De Bruyne.

Manchester City face RB Leipzig at home on Tuesday in a Champions League last-16 second leg, with the tie finely balanced at 1-1.