Erling Haaland compared to Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo by Pep Guardiola after Chelsea win - 'Numbers at that level'
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Updated 19/08/2024 at 12:51 GMT+1
Pep Guardiola paid Erling Haaland a huge compliment after the star striker netted in Manchester City's 2-0 away win over Chelsea. On his 100th appearance for the club, Haaland's 91 goals were compared to the feats of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. In the victory at Stamford Bridge, Haaland's goal ensured he scored on the opening weekend of the Premier League for the third year in a row.
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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola compared Erling Haaland’s scoring numbers to those of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after the Norwegian netted in a 2-0 win over Chelsea.
On his 100th appearance for Guardiola’s side, Haaland struck in the 18th minute to open the scoring at Stamford Bridge, before Mateo Kovacic sealed the win late on.
A dinked finish over Robert Sanchez brought Haaland’s total for City to a staggering 91, though the 24-year-old revealed his manager has asked for more than just goals this season.
And while the striker said that he was not in “the perfect state”, Guardiola offered him high praise with his comparison to all-time greats Messi and Ronaldo.
“I had the feeling that he [Haaland] feels better than last season at this stage,” said Guardiola. "Always he felt tired but with the Euros not being there, he is rested and feels good.
“The goal was magnificent. His contribution was defensively and in midfield too.
“These are numbers like [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo, that controlled everything in the last decade. His numbers are that level. To do that in this country is unbelievable.”
Haaland romped to the Premier League’s Golden Boot in each of the last two seasons and has the highest minutes-per-goal ratio in Premier League history.
The Norwegian needed just 48 league matches to breach the half-century mark, 17 matches fewer than it took former record-holder Andy Cole, statistics courtesy of BBC Sport.
As for his team’s all-round performance, Guardiola said it was “an honour” to lead the group of players in his ninth season at the club.
"I didn't expect it. We are away from our best so three points is the good news," Guardiola told Sky Sports. "The bad news is we have 65 games ahead of us.
"We have an advantage, it's our ninth season together so we know each other well. Of course there are mistakes you have to improve but we talked, the difference in being champions was our body language, how did we behave?
"It's the bad moments in the season and in the games that define the big teams. For me, it is an honour to be in charge of these guys. I'm so fortunate, I could not say more.
“If you are the best team in England for 38 games, you are going to defend the crown. We have to behave like we were, a champion team. Especially in the bad moments, I like to see that."
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