Pep Guardiola has explained why Erling Haaland’s five-goal haul for Manchester City against RB Leipzig was even more impressive than when Lionel Messi posted the same in-game tally.
Messi bagged five goals in a huge win for Barcelona, then coached by Guardiola, against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League in 2012. Haaland put in a virtuoso performance as City destroyed RB Leipzig 7-0 in Tuesday’s Round of 16 second leg.
The Norwegian – whose five goals came within a devastating 35-minute spell – already had a hat-trick by half-time; a penalty, close-range finish stemming from his pressing of the goalkeeper, and a scrappy third after Leipzig had cleared the ball off the line. Two more close-range finishes furthered the pain for the visitors, either side of Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne goals.
Haaland was substituted off in the 62 nd minute of the match, denying him the opportunity to score a ‘double hat-trick’ in the encounter. The Norwegian admitted after the match he was frustrated at being taken off with half-an-hour remaining.
“I told Pep when I went off that I would love to score a double hat-trick," Haaland claimed. "But what I can do!”
Guardiola has now spoken about the striker’s feat and compared it to that of Messi, whom he coached so successfully a decade ago at the Catalan giants.
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"I know that Leo scored five goals, I remember it perfectly," Guardiola responded after the game after being asked of the similarities. "But it's incredible that he (Haaland) did it in 60 minutes, it's not the case with Leo. But Erling is very young and this has to be an extra reason to beat Leo's record."
Guardiola continued: "You know, what are we going to say, the numbers of the season... the problem with this boy is that when he doesn't score two or three goals then he will be criticised.
"For the rest of his career, this is the reality. He is a joy and he's always happy in the dressing room, helping and giving his all for others. He's a great competitor, with a great mentality. He's scored five goals and it's not easy."
Haaland’s remarkable five-goal haul ensured he moved beyond the 30-goal mark in the Champions League, becoming the youngest goal scorer in the competition to reach that milestone – secured by his hat-trick strike just before the break.
He is aged 22 years and 236 days, which is 116 days younger than previously youngest striker Kylian Mbappe when he reached the landmark. Lionel Messi was aged 23 years and 131 days when he moved onto 30. A sign of the Norwegian’s remarkable rate.
