Erling Haaland scored his 28th senior career hat-trick on Saturday as Manchester City beat Liverpool 4-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as the Blues breezed into the FA Cup semi-finals
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as the Blues breezed into the FA Cup semi-finals(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
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Erling Haaland admitted Manchester City have not been good enough this season after the Blues thrashed Liverpool 4-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Haaland's brace before half-time put City in control before Antoine Semenyo wrapped up the game shortly after the break. Pep Guardiola's side secured their place in the FA Cup semi-finals when Haaland steered in a low cross, grabbing his hat-trick for the Blues in the process.
Having already won the Carabao Cup, City are still in the race to secure a domestic treble. But Haaland, who has received some criticism in recent weeks, believes the team must be aiming to do better. "I think it’s been a bit too much up and down, which is not good enough," Haaland said of his own form to TNT Sports.
"Again, I cannot keep thinking about what I could’ve done differently or what didn’t happen or what happened, I have to think about the next game. And the reality is now for us is a long week because we’re not in the Champions League, which is not good enough.
"But again, we won today [against Liverpool] and now we have to start focusing on Chelsea because it’s a massive game again." The Blues' battle for the title resumes next Sunday when they visit Stamford Bridge.
City still sit nine points behind Arsenal in the Premier League but the last two matchdays have given Guardiola's men renewed confidence. While City have won both of their cup matches comfortably, the Gunners have struggled.
Arsenal lost 2-1 to Championship club Southampton last night. Injury issues are also piling up for Mikel Arteta ahead of a busy week where they travel to Portugal on Tuesday before facing Bournemouth on Saturday.