Erling Haaland has labelled Manchester City’s season as “horrific” and “boring,” but believes an FA Cup victory could offer a much-needed silver lining.
Despite reaching the FA Cup final and staying within reach of Champions League qualification, the 24-year-old striker made it clear that City’s standards demand far more.
“This season has been tough,” Haaland told BBC Sport. “It’s not nice to lose so many games. It’s boring, not fun. That’s why we need to finish strong and win a trophy.”
After missing seven matches due to an ankle injury, Haaland made his return in City’s recent goalless draw with Southampton. He is now expected to lead the line in Saturday’s FA Cup final clash against Crystal Palace at Wembley.
“For us, reaching Wembley is something we always aim for. Winning trophies matters. Even in a horrific season, we’ve managed to put ourselves in this position,” he said.
City’s 2024–25 campaign has fallen well short of the dominance they’ve shown in recent years. The team trails Premier League champions Liverpool by 18 points and currently sits fourth in the table. Their Champions League run ended in the knockout play-offs at the hands of Real Madrid, and they exited the Carabao Cup in the fourth round against Tottenham.
“When you’ve won four league titles in a row, not winning a fifth makes it a failed season by our standards,” Haaland said. “We haven’t been good enough in the league, but we’re still fighting for Champions League qualification.”
Looking ahead to the final, Haaland acknowledged the threat Crystal Palace pose.
“They’re a really tough team to play against. We drew 2-2 at Selhurst Park in December and they gave us a tough start at the Etihad too, even though we won 5-2,” he noted. “They’ve got quality players and we’ll have to be at our best.”
Manchester City will be hoping to close a difficult season with silverware at Wembley—a chance to salvage pride and remind their rivals of the high standards they continue to set.
