PEP HAAL’S HEAD Striker has the top
PEP GUARDIOLA has claimed new signing Erling Haaland is a mentality monster who perfectly fits the Manchester City blueprint for success. And the Blues boss claims he’s eyeing up plenty more top players he could draft into The Etihad this summer as his stars close in on a fourth Premier League title in five years.
City have Borussia Dortmund striker Haaland, 21, in the bag after securing the Norwegian for a bargain £51million transfer fee, although huge agency payments, signingon fees and wages reportedly smash the deal through the £200m barrier over his five-year contract.
Guardiola (above) has admitted he will only sign players who possess the mentality to become serial winners with desire, hunger and ambition every bit as important as raw talent.
The Spaniard said: “There are many incredible players around the world who could fit in and play here without a doubt.
“The world is so big – a thousand million teams and top talented players.
“I like players who are not satisfied with individual honours, they want success as a team.
As long as they are good players with this special mentality of wanting to win again and again, every day and not satisfied.
“The demands in England and other top countries... they have to handle the mentality.
“Everyone knows the top teams in England, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany and France.
“But the big difference is that the top players can handle the big teams.
“When you do a pass it comes from here (points to the head), not the feet.
“That is the most important thing to find. Everything is in the head. Every action comes from there.
“But of course when you arrive at a club like City, and other clubs around the world with high standards, you either adapt or you can’t be here.there is no secret about that.and of course we have to prove ourselves, myself too, every season.”
With two games to play, City would go six points clear of title rivals Liverpool with victory at West Ham today and Guardiola says they will stick to their usual brand of attacking football to try to clinch the crown.