Haaland goalscoring heroics a ‘surprise’, says Guardiola

Haaland goalscoring heroics a 'surprise', says guardiola0

Erling Haaland is now on the verge of breaking the Premier League record for most goals scored in a single season, and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits that he is “surprised” by the Norwegian forward’s incredible goal-scoring heroics.

In Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Fulham, the 22-year-old scored his 34th goal of the league season, bringing him level with Andy Cole and Alan Shearer as the joint single-season record holders for goals scored in the Premier League.


The goal that Haaland scored at Craven Cottage was his 50th of the season, making him the all-time leader in goals scored by a Premier League player in all competitions since the name of the top flight was changed in 1992.

Haaland has a chance to break Dixie Dean’s all-time English record of 63 goals, which he established in the 1927–1928 season. If City’s quest for a treble is successful, the remaining 10 games of this season will be played.

The Everton player’s record of 60 goals scored in the Premier League during that season will almost certainly not be broken.Even Guardiola was taken aback by Haaland’s exploits in his first season playing in the English football league. The former Borussia Dortmund star has had an incredible first season in the English football league.

“It is a surprise for all of us — maybe not for him — to do what he’s doing in this difficult league, but the way he behaves and has done it is for the success of the team,” he added. “Maybe not for him.” If he is able to smash the records, it is obviously going to benefit both him and the team. It’s a promising omen.

“The significance of a record is derived from the fact that it stood unchallenged for a considerable amount of time. There will come a day when no record can stand.” According to Guardiola, Haaland’s second season with City has the potential to be even more successful than his first.

“I believe that he possesses the motivation necessary to improve as a player. He claimed that as long as he had that, he would be able to complete the task. “I know him a little bit, and he has such a competitive and optimistic outlook. I admire that about him. He exudes an awesomely upbeat and unshakeable sense of self-confidence. It is not arrogance on their part.

“It’s self-confidence to say I’m going to score, and then to arrive in his first season and score 50 goals already, equaling the record set by two legends in Andy Cole and Alan Shearer,” said the player. “It’s self-confidence to say I’m going to equal the record set by two legends.”

There have also been comparisons drawn between Haaland and the Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who led Barcelona in scoring with 73 goals in the 2011-12 season. However, Guardiola insisted that it is unfair to compare him to Messi, who played under the Spaniard at Barcelona. Messi was one of Guardiola’s players.

“There is no one who can compare to Messi. Erling will not benefit from this at all. Messi is the most complete player I have ever witnessed in terms of vision, dribbling, passing, and competitiveness, as well as many other challenging aspects of the game.

If Erling can become even near to Leo, it will be wonderful for all of us, but I won’t participate in any comparisons between the two because I don’t think it’s fair. Following last week’s rout of Arsenal by a score of 4-1, in-form City has established themselves firmly in control of the race for the title.

However, after being challenged to their limits by Fulham, Guardiola is not taking anything for granted in front of Wednesday’s match against West Ham at home for City. He remarked, “West Ham may not have had the season they expected, but that does not mean the quality is not there.”

They have a strong team and all of the necessary weaponry. Regarding them, I don’t have any skepticism. During the course of one game, anything is possible. It is imperative that we are completely prepared.

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