Why Erling Haaland did not take the penalty vs Leeds? Man City dominate, extend lead despite nervy finish

Simon Borg

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Why Erling Haaland did not take the penalty vs Leeds? Man City dominate, extend lead despite nervy finish image

Manchester City have treble written all over them. It's just that simple. 

City dominated Leeds United from start to finish on May 6 and they didn't even have to break a sweat except for a nervy final few minutes, winning 2-1 at Etihad Stadium to extend their lead atop the Premier League to four points. The 10th straight league victory for Pep Guardiola's side was even more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.

As is always the case with City, a different star emerges with each game. Against Leeds, it's hard to look past Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan, who combined for the first-half goals that were enough to see off the relegation strugglers.

It wasn't an auspicious start for Leeds under new manager Sam Allardyce, but there was no manager roaming the touchline who could've held off the most in-form team on the planet on the day.

By halftime, Man City had out-passed Leeds 473 to 86 and out-possessed the visitors by 84 percent to just 16 percent for Allardyce's men. This is what it looked like at halftime:

A late Leeds goal gave the visitors a few brief minutes of hope, but that was only because Man City didn't put the result to bed with a penalty that was awarded. Top scorer Erling Haaland didn't step up to take it, instead ceding the attempt to his captain and it nearly cost City.

Why did Erling Haaland not take penalty kick?

In case there was any question, Pep Guardiola made it clear after the game that Erling Haaland is Man City's designated penalty kick taker with Riyad Mahrez as his replacement when the young Norwegian striker isn't available or up for it.

But it was Ilkay Gundogan who took it with a chance to make it 3-0, as Haaland wanted to see his captain get his first hat-trick of his senior career. Gundogan had both of City's first-half goals and could have put an exclamation mark on a memorable day. Instead, he hit the post. Moments later, Leeds were back in the game.

Guardiola was clear that was not how things should have gone: "The game was not over. First taker is Erling. That means how nice is Erling. how generous, and how special a person he is. But when the game is 4-0 with 10 minutes left, it's OK. But with 2-0, it's who is the best taker and by far right now that's Erling. He had to take it. It's football. It's done when everything is done and the referee says goodbye and go home.

"The taker is the taker. With 2-0, this is a business. It's not a situation like we cannot forget it."

Later, during his postgame session with the written press, Guardiola reiterated that while Haaland "wants to score goals, and he scores goals, but at the same time his mates are important.

"But with 2-0, especially in England, it's never over."

"[Haaland] has more confidence right now because he has taken 11 penalties," Guardiola continued. "He has that feeling. Ilkay doesn't have that feeling. But I understand [why Haaland gave the penalty to Gundogan]."

"I asked [Haaland] actually a couple of times 'Are you sure?' and he was sure and confident to give me the ball and I grabbed the ball in the end and I wish I would've scored," Gundogan said postgame.

"Looking back afterwards the disappointment of failing to score the penalty is a bit higher than actually scoring two goals and winning the game. which is kind of a bit sad. But it is what it is. It's an experience that we are a bit richer with which we can hopefully apply for the next few games. And I'm 100 percent certain that Erling will step up for the next penalty."

Will Ilkay Gundogan sign with Man City?

The last time Gundogan scored two goals in a game for City? The title-clinching 2022 season finale when he sparked the comeback victory against Aston Villa to give Man City their latest Premier League crown.

He did his damage once again against Leeds with his runs from midfield — he played in the double No. 6 role with Kevin De Bruyne — and, on both goals, he took up a spot near the top of the box against a deep-lying Leeds side. 

Mahrez, cutting inside from the right wing on his cultured left foot, found him on both occasions and Gundogan's finishing was top-class in each moment.

The performance only reminds City supporters that their 32-year-old captain's contract expires in June, and although he says the two sides are in talks to extend their relationship, Barcelona and other clubs are already lurking to make their case to secure the services of the German international, who joined City in July 2016 for €27 million ($30.2m / £23.9m), which in hindsight was an absolute bargain.

This was Gundogan's final stat sheet against Leeds:

Manchester City lineup vs Real Madrid on Tuesday

The Leeds match proved a warmup of sorts for City ahead of their UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg in Madrid on Tuesday.

Real Madrid will need to prepare for a refreshed Kevin De Bruyne, who looked lively in his return to the lineup after two matches out, and an in-form Mahrez, who's been exceptional since the World Cup.

The only area of concern for City ahead of the Madrid match was the substitution of left-back Nathan Ake, who was injured after 55 minutes. Kyle Walker replaced Ake and Rico Lewis moved to left-back.

Bernardo Silva and Rodri also came off the bench to help see out the result after Leeds scored with five minutes remaining. 

Man City lineup: Ederson — Lewis, Akanji, Laporte, Ake (Walker 55')— Gundogan (Rodri 93'), De Bruyne — Mahrez, Alvarez (Silva 86'), Foden — Haaland

Man City subs: Ortega, Dias, Phillips, Stones, Grealish, Gomez

No goals for Haaland

Erling Haaland didn't get a goal in the game, but it wasn't for lack of trying. He struck the woodwork twice in the second half and had a sensational look on what would have been the goal of the season.

But the post-game conversation revolved around why Haaland didn't take the 84th-minute penalty kick, especially after Leeds scored moments later to make for a nervy finish.

In the moment, Guardiola was fuming about how his players handled that penalty.

It wasn't Haaland's day as he continues his chase of Dixie Dean's single-season record dating back to the old English First Division. He has at least seven more matches in which to score the 13 goals he needs to beat Dean's mark. It'll probably take a couple of hat-tricks along the way.

But Haaland strikes us as being the type to laugh off a goal-less showing against a relegation candidate — and this whiff will probably be replayed on loop in the dressing room.

Simon Borg

Simon Borg Photo

Simon Borg is a senior editor at The Sporting News who has covered football/soccer for over a decade. A supporter of Italian club Parma Calcio from his years growing up in Europe, he was previously a long-time member of Major League Soccer's digital media team, as a multimedia content producer, on-air personality, and Editor-in-Chief. Based in New York City, Borg is multilingual and has covered the domestic and global scene for TSN since 2021.