Dortmund’s Haaland one of best in the world, says Guardiola
Pep Guardiola hailed Erling Haaland as “one of the best players in the world” after Manchester City were drawn against their main summer transfer target’s side, Borussia Dortmund, in the Champions League quarter-finals next month.
Dortmund stand between City and a first European Cup semi-final of Pep Guardiola’s reign at the club, after the Champions League draw threw up some tantalising ties.
If City overcome Dortmund, having lost at the quarter-final stage in the previous three seasons, they will face the winners of the quarter-final between European champions Bayern Munich, Guardiola’s former team, and Paris St-germain.
The prospect of an all-english semi-final has also loomed, should Liverpool and Chelsea overcome Real Madrid and Porto respectively.
Liverpool defeated Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals in 2005 and two years later, with Chelsea exacting some revenge by overcoming their Merseyside rivals at the third attempt in 2008.
Haaland has been a revelation for Dortmund since his £20million move from Red Bull Salzburg in January last year, and City are emerging as the favourites to sign the prolific young Norway striker.
Guardiola refused to be drawn on the prospect of City lodging a formal bid for the 20-year-old, who has 47 goals in 48 appearances for Dortmund, but he made no secret of his admiration for the player’s talent.
“He’s a player for Dortmund and I don’t like it when people talk about our players, so you understand I cannot answer this question,” the City manager said. “The numbers speak for themselves, he is one of the best in the world at his age.”
The game could also pit City against Jadon Sancho for the first time since the England winger left the club for Dortmund in an £8million deal in 2017. Guardiola said he was pleased to see Sancho thrive in Germany but harbours “no regrets” over the player’s departure.
“I said many times, not a regret, he decides,” Guardiola said. “He’s doing really well, congratulations, an exceptional player. We wanted him to stay but he decided to leave.”
Thomas Tuchel, the Chelsea manager, said he was happy his side had not been paired with City or Liverpool. “I’m happy that we play an international game and not against an English team, because the Champions League is about that,” said the German.