Pep Guardiola denies he has 'a problem' with Erling Haaland as Man City beat Sevilla

MANCHESTER CITY thrashed Sevilla 4-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Posted Wednesday, September 07, 2022 by Express.co.uk

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has denied he has a problem with Erling Haaland after the Norway striker bagged another two goals on Tuesday night. Haaland was the star of the show for City once again as he helped his team win 4-0 against Sevilla in the Champions League and storm to the top of their group.

Following the match, Guardiola was asked by BT Sport reporter Jules Breach to name the aspects of his team’s second half performance that pleased him the most. “We gave more passes,” responded the Spaniard. “We sometimes want to arrive so, so quick because Erling is there - you have this attraction about him. To attack sometimes we have to make more passes.”

And when Breach followed up by asking whether the focus on Haaland caused his team a problem, Guardiola wagged his finger at her and replied: “No, I didn't say that. I prefer to have him - absolutely.”

City were in imperious form in Spain, with Haaland taking just 20 minutes to open his Champions League account for the Citizens as he got on the end of Kevin de Bruyne’s tantalising cross to poke the ball home. Phil Foden then drove a low effort into the back of the net midway through the second period, before Haaland got on the scoresheet for a second time after another shot from Foden had been parried out to him. And the Premier League champions wrapped-up the three points in stoppage time as Ruben Dias guided the ball into the back of the net from close range.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has denied he has a 'problem' with Erling Haaland

“I think his numbers in all his career - not just here but when he was in previous teams - is quite similar so he has an incredible sense of goal,” Guardiola continued as he spoke about Haaland. “He scored two in the centre. And yeah we have incredible numbers in scoring goals so, yeah, continue like that. Another final next Saturday against Tottenham and hopefully he can continue scoring goals.”

Guardiola then reflected on the performance of Foden, who already has two goals and three assists to his name this season.

“Phil has an incredible thing,” added the 51-year-old. “Lately he is not playing so good like normally but always do a job and always run and always fight and always is a stable for the team. And I’m pretty sure today the goal and the assist he has done is going to help him. Phil’s position is dynamic and his work ethic and we have to learn a lot.”

City now top Group G of the Champions League on goal difference after scoring one more goal than Borussia Dortmund, who also bagged three points from their opener after dispatching Copenhagen 3-0 in Germany. The Citizens are set to host Dortmund at the Etihad Stadium in their second European encounter next Wednesday.