Pep Guardiola, Manchester City’s manager, has thrown his weight behind Erling Haaland’s claim to be among the world’s best strikers, comparing the Norwegian to legendary goal scorers Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Guardiola’s praise comes after Haaland notched a hat-trick in City’s 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town, his 10th hat-trick for the club.
“The numbers are ridiculous,” Guardiola said to reporters. “He can compete in terms of goals with Cristiano and Messi. The numbers are unbelievable at his age. He’s an incredible threat, hopefully he can be here for many years.”
Haaland’s impressive scoring form has continued into the new season, with the 24-year-old already netting four goals in two games. He’s on track to win a third consecutive Golden Boot award, and his overall record at City is a staggering 94 goals in 101 appearances.
The powerful forward, who missed nearly two months last season with a foot injury, enjoyed a restful summer after Norway failed to qualify for Euro 2024. This break appears to have benefitted him immensely. “I said a few weeks ago, he feels better than previous seasons,” Guardiola remarked. “This season, no Euros, relax and arrive well. Last season he struggled a lot, especially at the beginning. He felt tired and niggles most of the time. This time, with the rest with no Euros, he has arrived with a good vibe.”
Haaland himself recently expressed his newfound fitness, saying, “I don’t have any pain in my body which is the first time for a long time. It’s amazing — you can push yourself more because you don’t have something in the back of your head. I had a long pre-season, I enjoyed it.”
However, Manchester City did have to cope with the absence of key players in the Ipswich game. Kyle Walker and Phil Foden were unavailable after a late return from England’s Euro 2024 final, while midfielder Rodri is not fully fit following an injury sustained in the same tournament.
With Haaland firing on all cylinders and Guardiola’s unwavering belief in his abilities, the stage is set for an exciting season for the Norwegian striker and his Manchester City team.
