Bernardo Silva has said he would not be surprised to see Erling Haaland dropped for Manchester City's Champions League round of 16 second leg with Real Madrid.
Haaland has failed to score in his last three Premier League matches, while his drought across all competitions has extended to six games.
He had netted 25 times before the turn of the year, with only Kylian Mbappe (29) and Harry Kane (30) managing more, but in 2026, Haaland has scored just four goals.
In addition, in his first 17 Premier League games this season, Haaland scored 19 goals and had a shot conversion of 29%.
In his last 12 games, he has had 36 shots and only scored three times, a drop to just an 8% shot conversion, with many suggesting he could be taken out of the firing line.
"We wouldn't be shocked by anything, because it is not our job to judge the manager's decision; he gets paid a lot of money to make those decisions," Silva told reporters.
"We have a big squad, everyone is ready to play. Erling is a massive player for us, a very important player, and in the big games, you need those players.
"But we have fantastic players everywhere. No one is irreplaceable.
"I would obviously prefer to have Erling because when you have Erling on the pitch, you are scoring goals, and we need goals [against Madrid].
"We've played without Erling when he was injured, we've dealt with those situations. The big players are there for the big moments."
Since joining City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, Haaland has made 187 appearances in all competitions, 176 of which have been from the start for Pep Guardiola's side.
Across that timeframe, only Arsenal's Declan Rice, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk (both 178) and Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes (188) have started more.
Haaland has missed just 41 games since arriving in England, with City winning 33 of those in his absence (D3 L5), and they have done well without him in the side.
The Citizens average the same number of goals (2.3) with and without Haaland. When he is not in the team, though, they have a win percentage of 80.5% compared to a 63.1% with him in the side.
tazbkosuz
0
The reason he is not scoring goals is because they are not feeding the ball to him. His job is to score goals but everyone thinks they are strikers and shooting even when there is no chance instead of passing to him already waiting in the box!! That is also why we are not winning games.
Haaland must learn to dribble and stop
tazbkosuz
0
It is what it is if Haaland is not performing drop him to the bench instead of allowing him to occupy space on the field he must learn to dribble and stop
Yamablstu
0
The reason he is not scoring goals is because they are not feeding the ball to him. His job is to score goals but everyone thinks they are strikers and shooting even when there is no chance instead of passing to him already waiting in the box!! That is also why we are not winning games.
Zobaceirs
3
I'm afraid tomorrow you're playing your last game of the UCL this season 🤣🤣🤣🤣🥱🥱🥱
Zobaceirs
3
Where do I get the feeling that you will still be destroyed at Etihad Stadium 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Timdeloz
0
you sold KEvin Debrune, the maestro who provided assists for Halland, so what are crying for now
check statistics. the highest Halland has ever scored is all assists from KDB
Richard0010
0
you have a little understanding of football
Kelvin is old bro, halland just loose form. He will be back stronger I believe
yunbdelryz
0
This city fans are ungrateful people I swear
football itself is ungrateful man , but sliver is definitely right even if we played Madrid ten times haaland should not start
Timdeloz
0
you sold KEvin Debrune, the maestro who provided assists for Halland, so what are crying for now
you have a little understanding of football
social3727
0
you sold KEvin Debrune, the maestro who provided assists for Halland, so what are crying for now
He has been scoring without kdb, he's just having a poor form
tuwdmnops
0
Haaland must be dropped, he's literally doing nothing of late more vs real Madrid he e doesn't score goals except a penalty,You don't have to wait for a penalt in modern football
nonsense
Timdeloz
1
you sold KEvin Debrune, the maestro who provided assists for Halland, so what are crying for now
chrisblink_s
1
This city fans are ungrateful people I swear
SGTSingam
1
Mind you that "one is irreplaceable" for certain reasons !! 😅
siwbdmosuy
1
Very stupid captain
poubdkmp
0
Haaland must be dropped, he's literally doing nothing of late more vs real Madrid he e doesn't score goals except a penalty,You don't have to wait for a penalt in modern football
jatcekprtu
3
You drop him or not. Mr Silva. This is your and your Manchester City team mates last Campion league Match for this season.
banabstuyz
2
Haaland stay humble my boy
tiddeinsz
3
True, he may save him for Sunday. But i don’t know why.
citdikot
1