Erling Haaland, Manchester City’s star striker, didn’t hold back when speaking to BBC Sport, bluntly describing his team’s season as “horrible.” Even though the Cityzens are still in the running for the FA Cup and close to securing a spot in next season’s Champions League, the Norwegian believes that failing to win a fifth straight Premier League title is a major letdown for a club that holds itself to the highest standards.

No excuses, just brutal honesty

Haaland was direct: “When you win four leagues in a row and don’t get the fifth, you can’t call it a successful season.” He also took accountability for his own performances: “I haven’t been good enough, I haven’t helped the team enough. None of us have been at our best, and when that happens in this league, you don’t win.”

Despite the injuries that plagued City this season—including a spell on the sidelines for Haaland himself—the striker refused to use that as an excuse: “Sure, we had injuries, but we can’t hide behind that. We weren’t consistent enough and didn’t win the big games. That’s the truth.”

A farewell for De Bruyne?

Haaland also touched on the likely departure of Kevin De Bruyne, calling the Belgian “irreplaceable” and “a true joy to play with.” “I really hope we can win a trophy for him. I’ll do everything I can to make that happen,” said the forward, clearly determined to end the season on a high at Wembley against Crystal Palace.

Looking ahead to next season, Haaland was crystal clear: “We have to find something inside us to come back stronger next season. Accept what happened, learn from it, and be better prepared. We want to finish strong and come back even better.” With 30 goals in 40 games, his hunger shows that at City, numbers aren’t enough—it’s all about winning.