Pep Guardiola said that Manchester City would be much worse without Erling Haaland - but praised the striker for refusing to blame anyone else for their struggles.

Haaland fronted up to broadcasters after the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa where he failed to score again - he has just one goal in the last six Premier League games - and was critical of his own level. After a lightning start to the season where he couldn't stop scoring, the Norwegian is now struggling to get any service and without that has been unable to impact games to stop City's alarming slump.

"First I'm looking at myself, I haven't been doing things good enough, I haven't been scoring my chances," he told TNT Sports. "I have to do better, I haven't been good enough."

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When those comments were put to Guardiola, the manager disagreed and stuck up for the standards of his 18-goal striker. However, he is happy to see his players looking at their own performances rather than blaming teammates or any other factors.

"I don't agree with him," he said in his press conference. "Without him he would be even worse but I like players to be that way. It's the only chance we have to get better.

"There are two options: like I judge myself, the only other situation is blame your side. That depends on them. I don't agree with Erling because he tried and he needs to be delivered the right balls in the right spots but now we recover and we fight for the next one."