Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has claimed that Erling Haaland's winning goal against Borussia Dortmund reminded him of Johan Cruyff.
City left it late to win their second Champions League game in Group G as they came from behind to beat Dortmund 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium. Jude Bellingham gave the visitors the lead, after getting on the end of a Marco Reus cross to flick a deft header past Ederson in goal.
It wasn't until the 80th minute before City finally got back into the game, when John Stones unleashed a fierce drive from the edge of the box that flew past a Dortmund keeper who would have been disappointed not to have done better. Blues supporters would not have cared one bit, as the unlikely goalscorer got his side back into the game.
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It was a far more familiar face that made the vital difference, as Haaland scored yet again for Guardiola's side. The Norwegian flung himself to the back-post as he got on the end of Joao Cancelo's sumptuous outside of the right foot cross.
The 22-year-old's outstretched left boot was there to turn home a sensational acrobatic goal. It proved to be the winning moment as City claimed three more Champions League points to remain top of their group.
Speaking after the match, Guardiola compared the former Dortmund striker's goal to one that he recalled Cruyff scoring for Barcelona.
He told BT Sport: "Yeah what a goal. I remember, when I was a long long time ago in Barcelona. Johan Cruyff scored one quite similar goal - I remembered it immediately when he [Haaland] scored - against Atletico Madrid."
"And he scored quite a similar goal, and today it is nice, it's nice [that] Erling emulates Johan Cruyff"
Adding to those comments in his written press media conference, Guardiola added: "Maybe the people who knows me maybe you know the influence Johan Cruyff had on my life as a person and a mentor. And years ago Johan Cruyff scored an incredible goal in Camp Nou for Barcelona against Atletico Madrid and the moment Erling scored I thought it was quite similar. It was an incredible assist by Joao. The finishing from Erling was exceptional.
"I remember my dear friend Ibrahimovic that have this ability to put the leg on the roof and Erling is quite similar on that and I think it is his nature, he is elastic, he is flexible and after has the ability to make the contact and put the ball in the net. I think his mum and dad give him that flexibility."
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