Although he isn’t there yet, Erling Haaland is already on everyone’s lips at Manchester City. Star coach Pep Guardiola initially refuses to talk about the new signing, but then hints at the role he has in mind for the Norwegian. Another even imitates the striker.
Manchester City’s star coach Pep Guardiola is convinced that his team will quickly benefit from new signing Erling Haaland. “He will definitely help us score more goals,” Guardiola told Sky Sports on Wednesday after Man City’s 5-1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.
But it’s not just about that. “We will never give him the responsibility of scoring the goals,” said the City coach about the Norwegian, who switched from Borussia Dortmund to the Cityzens in the summer. Not only strikers are responsible for the goals, emphasized Guardiola. “We have to win games and for that it’s important that everyone does their best.”
Actually, Guardiola didn’t want to comment on Haaland at all after the game. “I’m answering because I have to and because I’m a polite man, but that’s an issue for next season,” said the City coach, who preferred to talk about the outstanding Kevin De Bruyne.
The Belgian had scored four goals against Wolves and imitated Haaland’s goal celebration after his third goal. De Bruyne then pretended to be clueless. Does that have anything to do with Haaland? “I didn’t even know that,” joked De Bruyne. “I only did it because I scored three times, it never happens otherwise.”
Defending champions Manchester City had maintained their three-point lead over pursuers Liverpool and coach Jürgen Klopp with the rout and are still on a master course. With two games to go before the end of the season, the Cityzens also have a significantly better goal difference (72) than Liverpool (65). Chelsea FC also celebrated an important away win after three games without a win. The Londoners prevailed 3-0 (1-0) at Leeds United and, third in the table, are still on course towards qualifying for the Champions League. Mason Mount (4th minute), Christian Pulisic (55th) and Romelu Lukaku (83rd) scored in the stadium on Elland Road for the Blues coached by Thomas Tuchel.
6
