“We are going to find the solution to that problem and he is going to find the solution to solve that problem.”
Manchester City’s manager extraordinaire Pep Guardiola has warned rival managers that there will be a solution to counter any obstacle they are able to pose for his ace striker Erling Haaland as all efforts will be taken to ensure the latter will always stay one step ahead of the rest of the league.
The free-scoring young striker only needed the first half of the Cityzens’ 5-0 win over Copenhagen in the Champions League to score a brace and extend his scoring streak to 19 goals in 12 games. Ahead of facing Southampton at the Etihad on Saturday, 22-year-old Haaland is now only nine goals away from equalling last year’s Golden Boot-winning total and has the all-time Premier League record of 34 goals in a single season within his sights.
Guardiola fully expects that opponents will adapt to Haaland’s unique abilities as the season goes on, especially given the role of analysis in the modern game, but he is also confident that the Norwegian has the ability and agility to stay ahead of his aggressors.
When asked if City’s rivals would learn how to play against Haaland, Guardiola said: “In my early days as a football player it didn’t happen because we didn’t have the right angles, drawings and all the views we have now.
“Of course it’s going to happen but that is the point. We are going to find the solution to that problem, and he is going to find the solution to solve that problem. That’s for sure.”
Guardiola accepts that his ace young striker will draw the occasional blank – the only top-flight side to have prevented him from scoring so far this season is newly-promoted Bournemouth – but is confident his centre-forward is too good to be kept under restraint for long.
“There will be games he won’t score, there are games where he’ll play bad. That’s guaranteed. Maybe two games in a row, maybe three. People will say what’s happened now? Calm. Next game, we’re going to try again.”
The young Norwegian lad’s spectacular rate of scoring is already phenomenal even at this early juncture and Guardiola believes that he is ready to handle the extra scrutiny focused on him due to his extraordinary talents, due in large to the influence from his father Alf-Inge.
“He is comfortable with the pressure on his shoulders and the expectations, he’s such a normal person. I think he can handle it… Maybe, he was born in a football environment and I’m pretty sure his father talked football with him, he likes to watch football.
“I’m pretty sure it was good advice, from father to son. All fathers want the best for the sons and I’m pretty sure he’s given it to him but in the end it’s Erling’s own life and experiences.
“He has to take decisions for himself. But we are talking every day about the goals and incredible stats, but what impresses the most is how lovely a guy he is and that helps us to live our lives much much better.”