'Boring and not fun' - Erling Haaland opens up on 'horrific season' but backs Man City to win FA Cup and secure Champions League qualification

Haaland has admitted City have endured a horrible season but says he hopes his team can put their struggles behind them by qualifying for the Champions League and beating Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final. The Cityzens relinquished their Premier League title to Liverpool after a poor mid-season run of form, while their silverware hopes took major hits with their elimination from Europe by Real Madrid and the Carabao Cup exit to Tottenham.

City have been dogged by injury issues like a number of rival teams in the Premier League this season. Rodri has missed most of the campaign, while Haaland himself was recently absent for six games due to an ankle problem. Pep Guardiola's side missed a golden opportunity to cement themselves in the top five on Saturday as they were held to a goalless draw by already-relegated Southampton. The Norwegian started the game at St Mary's and is now targeting another trophy at Wembley on Saturday.

Haaland told BBC Sport: "This season has been tough. It is not nice to lose so many games. It is boring and not fun. That's why we need to finish well and get a trophy.

"It is a good habit to reach Wembley and always important to win trophies. We have the FA Cup final to play for and in a horrific season we still managed to do this.

"When you have won four league titles in a row, if you don't win five it's not going to be a successful season.

"Those are the standards we have set. We haven't done good enough in the league but still hoping for Champions League qualification."

Haaland won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and Super Cup in 2023 during his first year at City. However, last season yielded only a league title and the 24-year-old has bagged 30 goals in all competitions compared to his previous hauls of 52 and 38.

Haaland will hope to lead City to an eighth FA Cup on Saturday before their attention turns to securing Champions League football next season when they host Bournemouth on Tuesday.