Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola believes Erling Haaland’s thirst for life and his positive personality is helping him to break goalscoring records for Manchester City after he plundered another hat-trick in the FA Cup rout against Burnley. Haaland has scored nine goals in a week for City and now has 42 in 37 games for City as he continues to set new benchmarks after his move from Borussia Dortmund. The striker is now on target to reach 60 goals in all competitions this season and while Guardiola is reluctant to put a target on his back, he admires the character that the Norwegian is showing off the pitch as well as on it.
Pep Guardiola said: “I don’t know the number, this guy will have a problem in the future, people expect every game he scores three or four goals and this isn’t going to happen. I know he doesn’t care because he is so positive, so optimistic, he never complains and always looks himself. He’s an incredible threat, his joy of life, he’s always positive, optimistic, that helps a lot.”
Guardiola joked that he took Haaland off to avoid him breaking Lionel Messi’s FA Cup record, after he was questioned in midweek for taking the striker off after five goals against RB Leipzig, matching Messi’s Champions League landmark.
Pep Guardiola said: “It is incredible he scores goals only playing one hour. As much as we play good he’s going to score. Julian again, what a partnership, when they play together they score goals. The target numbers I don’t know. We play like this Erling will score goals.”
