Guardiola tips Haaland to improve as 100th Man City goal beckons

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — With Erling Haaland on the verge of an awfully fast scoring milestone, Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola is aware of he can not anticipate an excessive amount of extra from his star striker.

Guardiola would not suppose he’ll have to.

“The expertise of taking part in sport after sport, they are going to enhance,” Guardiola mentioned of Haaland’s scoring numbers.

The Norway worldwide has 99 targets in 103 video games for Metropolis since becoming a member of in the summertime of 2022.

No. 100 might come in opposition to Inter Milan within the Champions League on Wednesday.

“The extra video games he performs for this membership, he can be a greater participant,” Guardiola mentioned. “And in a pure approach. Not as a result of we did one thing particular or he practices one thing particular, only a pure approach.”

Haaland scored 52 occasions in 53 video games in all competitions in his first season after arriving from Borussia Dortmund. That amazed Guardiola, as a result of he mentioned Haaland had muscular issues within the first few months and he “struggled a bit.”

This season, Guardiola continued, Haaland is freed from harm and mentally recent after having the summer time off as a result of Norway didn’t qualify for the European Championship.

By following up back-to-back hat tips with two targets in opposition to Brentford in a 2-1 win within the English Premier League on Saturday, Haaland has 9 targets in his opening 4 video games of the season.

“I do not anticipate each single sport he scores three, two, three, two targets,” Guardiola mentioned. “The second it occurs, it isn’t an issue as a result of I do know the standard is there.

“However the distinction to final season is he is good, no issues, and when a participant has that feeling, he can carry out his finest.”

Wednesday’s match is a repeat of the 2023 Champions League closing, which Metropolis gained 1-0 — because of a second-half aim from Rodri — to grow to be European champion for the primary time.

Guardiola mentioned he watched the sport again for the primary time on Monday however gained’t use it as a motivational device for his gamers.

“In regards to the inspiration and feelings, I am so chilly on that,” he mentioned. “That is the primary of eight video games within the group stage. Tactically we simply should be current.”