Haaland had an impossible job, says Pep
PEP Guardiola said Erling Haaland had an impossible task against Bournemouth, praising his ability to get an assist on his home City debut.
The Norwegian used his strength to hold off two defenders and play in Ilkay Gundogan to open the scoring for the Blues, and then pressured his centreback to help the ball drop to Rodri to start the move for City’s second goal.
However, he couldn’t follow up on his brace at West Ham and was substituted in the second half having completed just two passes - one of which was a kick-off and the other the assist for Gundogan.
Guardiola said he was more than happy with Haaland’s performance, pointing to the five defenders he had to deal with from Bournemouth.
“The most difficult job in the world is when you are a striker and defenders defend in areas like Bournemouth,” said the Blues boss.
“They have three central defenders and two players in front and everyone in the middle, how can you survive like that? It’s so difficult.
“We will find many of these situations, but it is a question of time. The right moment, the right tempo, the right movement.
“But the quality of players we have behind him, to assist him, we will find him, I have no doubt about that. It is Important against these teams to be patient, don’t concede. Defend the set-pieces, don’t concede free-kicks and corners. The right moment will come, don’t be anxious if after 15-20 minutes we don’t score because they want that.
“The two games we play, against West Ham and there we concede maybe one chance on target.
“It’s a symbol that without the ball we are there and with the ball we are patient enough to create chances.”
Guardiola was seen giving detailed instructions to Haaland during the water breaks and during other stoppages, and he opened up on his message to the striker at full-time.
He said: “It depends, sometimes outside you see some movement of the opponent, that they don’t realise and you try to help.
“The holding midfielder, number four, jam a lot to Nathan (Ake), the spaces behind to put the ball outside inside.
“We tell defenders to put the ball to Kyle (Walker), Joao (Cancelo), Phil (Foden).
“After, it depends on them, always different. It was completely different to West Ham because West Ham defend differently.
“We talk just to help them, to realise the space is to create chances.”