Pep Guardiola has warned Europe that Erling Haaland is going to become even more prolific after his explosive start to his Manchester City career.
Haaland has plundered 12 goals in his first seven games for City following his £51million move from Borussia Dortmund over the summer. The prolific Norwegian took his Champions League total to 25 goals from just 20 appearances after his double in City's 4-0 rout away at Sevilla last week.
Not even Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo could boast those numbers after 20 games in the Champions League, with City boss Guardiola claiming the best is yet to come from Haaland – who faces former club Dortmund at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
“He's young, hungry, it’s going to happen - he can improve,” Guardiola said of the former Molde prodigy. “He’s 22 and can be better. The connection with his mates, over time, will improve and he will be an even better player.”
Haaland's City team-mates agree, with skipper Ilkay Gundogan revealing the 22-year-old striker's impact and influence off the pitch is just as significant as on it. “I think he's settled in very well,” the German said of Haaland. “The numbers speak for themselves.
“He’s done great on the pitch, but also his character, attitude and determination off it is incredible. For such a young boy, he's very mature and I think his future is very bright. I think he’s going to show us a lot more, not just this season, but in the next few years, and I think the club have signed an incredible player and an incredible person.”
Gundogan, who also joined City from Dortmund, as Guardiola's first sigining back in 2016, said Haaland is relaxed about facing his old team-mates so soon after leaving them. The 31-year-old added: “I think we’re both excited to be playing our former team. It’s six years in the past for me, but it will probably be a lot more special for him because he will know 95 per cent of the squad still.”
Haaland has been hailed as the missing link for City in their pursuit of the Champions League, the one trophy to elude the club in an unprecedented decade of success following Sheikh Mansour's takeover. “We hope so,” Gundogan replied when asked if Haaland is the final piece of the puzzle.
“Having a proper number nine, a proper striker who's strong and determined will help us a lot. But we will see. The Champions League is something incredible to achieve, it’s a very tough competition, it’s never easy and little details can decide the outcome. Obviously, we want to try again this year to go as far as possible.”
How many goals will Erling Haaland end the season on? Have your say in the comments!
Guardiola said his team selection against Dortmund will be influenced by Saturday lunchtime's Premier League kick-off at Wolves, with the City boss grateful his squad are at home rather away in Europe.
“We will pick a team to win tomorrow, because it's so important," Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday. “Being there in the Premier League, so close to the top, when the World Cup starts and then we see how people come back.
“But in the Champions League, you need to qualify. We won the first game and in the Champions League at home you have to be strong. Tomorrow’s selection, it's a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday and we're lucky we don't travel. It’s a difficult one, because a team like Wolves is hard because of the mentality they've had for many years.”
