Erling Haaland has worked closely with Pep Guardiola since he signed for Manchester City in 2022.
Guardiola stressed Haaland’s impact on Manchester City’s dressing room has even been more significant than his heroics on the pitch.
Pep Guardiola heralded Haaland’s goalscoring ability as “not normal” as well.
Haaland revealed Guardiola’s main demand before he joined Manchester City is to push himself to the limit in training as per his demands.
The Manchester City duo seemed to have struck up an incredible partnership from day one.
In tandem, Pep Guardiola and Haaland have managed to not just conquer English football but also Europe.
Pep Guardiola says he always advises Erling Haaland to be “patient”
Most recently, Haaland made Champions League history against Sparta Prague by becoming the second-quickest player in the competition’s history to score 20 goals for one club [Manchester City].
In the process, Haaland’s 44th Champions League goal meant he surpassed Neymar in the tournaments all-time highest goal-getters charts.
As Haaland scored a brilliant brace in Manchester City’s 5-0 victory against Sparta Prague, Pep Guardiola revealed that he always advises his star striker to be patient and wait for chances to come his way.
Guardiola disclosed via HaytersTV: “I know it’s not easy for him because they defend in the box, no space, three central defenders with him, two holding midfielders close to him, even the wingers close to the holding midfielders. Literally, there’s no space, you know that?”
“Every cross, they are hugging and pushing him so it’s not easy. But I spoke many times with him, ‘Be patient, be patient, be positive because the ball is coming’, the ball arrived.”
Pep Guardiola revealed Haaland was quiet against Inter Milan due to how he was given little to no space by their players inside the box.
Sparta Prague were giving the Norwegian the same treatment before he scored a phenomenal acrobatic goal and doubled his tally with a clinical finish as the game opened up.
Haaland’s wonder-goal has garnered praise from Rio Ferdinand amongst several other pundits in particular.
Haaland revealed why it can be “frustrating” for him at Man City sometimes
In an interview with Amazon Prime Video Sport in February 2023, Haaland revealed that he can get frustrated when some of his Manchester City teammates do not pick him out.
“Yeah, it can be frustrating. Of course. Either the player doesn’t see me or he thinks it’s another good choice to do something else. This is, of course up to the other players around but it’s about chemistry.”
In several games, Manchester City, alongside Arsenal tend to face teams who sit in a deep block.
As a result, the 24-year-old often barely has any space to exploit while the team in question is looking to force City into a mistake and hit them on the break.
During such matches, Haaland’s patience is often tested.
Pep Guardiola’s advice to him must go a long way as Wednesday’s contest showed that sooner rather than later, the in-form marksman will get on the scoresheet.
