Highlights: Liverpool back to winning ways after Salah’s breakthrough goal
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Speaking after the win, Man City’s manager said the Norwegian star’s “influence” was as great as that of Messi and Ronaldo, two footballing icons who have long fought for “GOAT” status during their glittering careers with club and country.
“Do you look at the numbers of that player? Of course he is at that level. Messi and Ronaldo have been doing it for 15 years, but this is at the level.”
Guardiola also praised Haaland’s “coachable and manageable” work ethic, but admitted that Haaland treats his strikers with tough love.
“The first goal, the way he shot, it was like, ‘I’m going to score.’ He has that greed. It’s great. I said how incredibly coachable and manageable he is,” Guardiola said.
“I’m sometimes hard on Haaland, but he’s open-minded. He lives for goals and sometimes he can’t last 90 minutes under pressure, but that’s normal.”
“It would have been tough without him, to be honest, but we’re lucky that Omar (Marmouche) is back and we have fit players, so that’s a good thing.”
Haaland’s latest two goals increased his season tally to 26 for both Man City and Norway. Of those, 17 were achieved domestically in just 13 games for the Cityzens.
It’s no surprise that the 25-year-old is the club’s top scorer with 13 goals in the top flight this season, but he also has one goal, the second-most in the league by a City player.
Tijani Reynders, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden, Matheus Nunez and Nico O’Reilly have all scored one goal in the Premier League, while Burnley’s Maxime Esteve is second with two own goals.
Haaland should have thanked Cherki for his “special talent” on Sunday. He assisted on both goals during his summer signing.
“His vision in the final third is great, he has the stability and courage to play,” Guardiola said of the France international.
“We need a little more time to get into the rhythm of the Premier League because the way we play is dynamic.
“He had a goal and an assist against Swansea, he had two assists today and he has a special talent of connecting with the players up front. That’s unique.”
“It’s not just that. There’s a lot going on. Step by step, he’s able to understand what we need to do.”
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