Pep Guardiola draws comparison between Lionel Messi and hattrick hero Erling Haaland after Manchester United rout
Pep Guardiola Erling Haaland (Image source; Twitter)
Manchester City thumped bitter rivals Manchester United 6-3 in their Premier League meeting on Sunday. The game which was billed as a highly competitive game of football was nothing but a showcase of strength and superiority by the City side.
With a powerful young striker at the top, City dismantled rivals United in the first half itself. City striker Erling Haaland and Phil Foden came up with individual braces in the first half to down United 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
Both went on to clinch their individual hattricks in the second half combining to score six from the Premier League holder. This was Erling Haaland’s third hattrick in just eight Premier League matches, a record that puts him ahead of all. The Norwegian now has 14 goals in eight Premier League appearances that puts his goal-to-match ratio at 1.75. Many fans now expect the 22-year-old to score a goal every match.
When a highly impressed reporter asked the same question to City coach Pep Guardiola, his reply was insightful. The reporter compared Haaland to Lione Messi and said, “When you have Lionel Messi, you always expect him to go out and score every game. Do you feel that about Erling Haaland now?”
Guardiola after thinking about the response quickly on his feet said, “The difference, Erling needs maybe all his mates, you know to do it. Unbelievable.” On Messi’s ability the former Barcelona coach said, “Messi had the ability for himself to do it.”
Here’s the video:
Pep Guardiola on Lionel Messi and if he now gets the feeling that Erling Haaland will score in every game: "The difference, Erling needs maybe all his mates, you know to do it. Unbelievable. Messi had the ability for himself to do it."pic.twitter.com/rodCdrrvrT
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) October 3, 2022
Pep Guardiola’s glittering career at Barcelona
Guardiola who managed Barcelona from 2008 to 2012 won everything there was to win with Lionel Messi. The two combined to clinch two Champions League, three La Liga trophies, and a hoard of other innumerable personal and team awards. Messi under Pep Guardiola is rated as one of the best football players to ever grace the pitch. His record of 91 goals in one season (2012) under Pep still remains one of the most incredible seasons of any player in top football.
