Pep Guardiola says Erling Haaland’s astonishing scoring feats for Manchester City were a “surprise”, with the Norwegian at the cusp of breaking the Premier League’s single-season objective document.
The 22-year-old netted his thirty fourth objective of the league marketing campaign in Sunday’s 2-1 win at Fulham, drawing him stage with joint Premier League single-season document holders Andy Cole and Alan Shearer.
Haaland’s strike at Craven Cottage was once his fiftieth objective of the season — he holds the all-competitions document through a Premier League participant because the height flight was once rebranded in 1992.
With a possible 10 video games closing for treble-chasing City this time period, Haaland may even cross Dixie Dean’s all-time English document of 63 targets set within the 1927/28 season.
The Everton participant’s mark of 60 top-flight moves right through that marketing campaign will indubitably stay intact.
It has been a breath-taking first yr in English soccer for Haaland, or even Guardiola did not be expecting this sort of spree from the previous Borussia Dortmund famous person.
“It is a surprise for all of us — maybe not for him — to do what he’s doing in this difficult league but the way he behaves and has done it is for the success of the team,” he mentioned.
“Of route it is excellent for him and the staff if he breaks the data. It’s a excellent signal.
“The magnitude of a record is because for a long time it was not broken. All records will be broken one day.”
‘Incredible self-confidence’
Guardiola believes Haaland’s 2nd season with City might be even higher than his first.
“I think he has the desire to get better as a player. As long as he has that he can do it,” he mentioned.
“I do know him somewhat and he’s so aggressive and certain in his mindset. He has this implausible, certain self-confidence. It’s no longer conceitedness.
“It’s self-confidence to say I am going to score and to arrive in his first season and score 50 already and equal the record for two legends in Andy Cole and Alan Shearer.”
Comparisons have additionally been made between Haaland and Argentina famous person Lionel Messi, who scored 73 targets for Barcelona in 2011–12.
But Guardiola insisted it’s unfair to attract parallels with Messi, who performed beneath the Spaniard at Barcelona.
“No-one can examine with Messi. It is not going to assist Erling. Messi is probably the most whole participant I’ve noticed relating to imaginative and prescient, dribbles, passes, competitiveness, in many stuff which can be tough.
“Hopefully Erling can be so close to Leo, that would be great for us and him, but I don’t help anyone to compare them.”
In-form City put themselves firmly in keep an eye on of the name race with their 4-1 rout of Arsenal ultimate week.
But, after being driven arduous through Fulham, Guardiola isn’t taking the rest with no consideration forward of City’s house sport in opposition to West Ham on Wednesday.
“West Ham maybe didn’t do the season they expected but that doesn’t mean the quality isn’t there,” he mentioned.
“The guns are there, they’re a excellent staff. I do not need doubts about them. In one sport the rest can occur. We should be completely in a position.