Guardiola hails Haaland ahead of big Reds clash
Pep Guardiola believes Erling Haaland is so good that he shines even when doing nothing.
Haaland has been sensational since joining Manchester City in the summer, scoring 20 goals in just 13 appearances for the Premier League champions.
The Norwegian has bagged three hat-tricks and has also weighed in with three assists.
Yet it is not just these numbers that have impressed City manager Guardiola, but the work the 22-year-old does during the long periods in games when he sees little of the ball.
Guardiola said: “I’ve been really surprised at his mentality. We knew his skills, but not how he behaves in bad moments, in the situations when he’s not involved for 20 minutes.
“He’s never out of the game, he’s always focused. It is difficult to score a goal when you don’t touch the ball, when you are not involved in the feelings, but always he has that belief and he is involved in the process.
“He is always thinking, ‘I will have a chance, I will arrive, I will have the moment, I will score a goal’. He’s never disconnected, even when not being involved much.
“Now he is involved more than in the beginning, but even when he is not involved, he is never disconnected. That is the most important thing.”
Haaland was rested for the first time since joining City for the midweek draw against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League, but is poised to return for today’s trip to Liverpool.
Guardiola expects plenty more to come from the forward although he anticipates there will be tough times too.
He said: “When a player arrives always I expect the best, always I thought this guy would score goals.
“So far the numbers are unbelievable and the important thing is he’s playing regularly. He’s not had to stop, as happened last season, unfortunately, for Borussia Dortmund. But he came for many years and he’s just arrived – two or three months.
“He can improve, but many bad moments are coming. In that moment it is just, ‘OK, go for the next one’.”
Meanwhile, Guardiola insists Liverpool’s lowly position in the table means very little ahead of today’s encounter.
Liverpool have been City’s chief title rivals in recent years, but they have made an unexpectedly slow start to the new campaign, collecting just 10 points from eight games.
Yet Guardiola has no doubts about the enduring quality of a side who went close to winning the quadruple last term.
“Two months ago, three months ago, Liverpool was fighting for an unprecedented situation in English football, fighting for four titles,” said the City manager. “They won two, lost one by one point and, in the (Champions League) final, they had more shots on target, more chances, more everything than the opponent and they lost.
“For just two little details they could not achieve something that no English team had done. This the same team with the same manager.
“I pay zero attention about good moments or bad moments. I analyse how the team is
and I’m always expecting the best of them. This is how you have to approach it.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has a respectful rivalry with Guardiola – even if he wishes his City counterpart had taken a fouryear sabbatical instead of coming to England.
The two coaches have brought the best out of each other since Guardiola arrived in the Premier League in 2016, with two of the last four title races being decided by a single point.
At any other time Klopp’s side would arguably have won two more championships than the one they lifted in 2020, but they have found themselves competing against one of the greatest managers and teams in history.
Unlike Klopp, who is contracted until 2026, Guardiola’s current deal expires next summer, although the City boss is relaxed about his future and expects to hold talks during the break for the World Cup.
So would Klopp be happy to see Guardiola go? He said: “I would prefer Pep would do a sabbatical for four years.
“Actually my preference would have been for him to have had a sabbatical for the last four years. That’s a joke.
“I don’t know how often I have to say it but he is the best manager in the world and he is proving that all the time, every day.
“It’s special what they are doing, really special, and I respect that. It’s fine. I have no problem with the situation.”
On their personal relationship Klopp added: “I am not Roger Federer and Pep is not Rafael Nadal – they compete on the highest level and are best friends.
“Pep and I are not best friends as we don’t know each other, but I respect him a lot and I know he respects what we are doing as well.
“For a rivalry we don’t need to be disrespectful. Around the games we have a good relationship.”