Erling Haaland’s Stunning Hat-Trick Has Pep Guardiola Buzzing with Excitement
Pep Guardiola has hailed Erling Haaland as a potential great among greats, comparing him to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in terms of goalscoring prowess. The Manchester City boss has been blown away by the 24-year-old’s incredible form, with a hat-trick against Ipswich Town in the Premier League this weekend.
Haaland’s return from a lengthy break during Euro 2024 seems to have done wonders for his health, as he’s spoken of no longer feeling any pain in his body. Guardiola believes this, coupled with his remarkable numbers, means Haaland can hang with the likes of Ronaldo and Messi – who are widely regarded as the best players of their generation.
Haaland has netted four goals this season, and with 94 strikes in 101 appearances for Manchester City so far, he’s already establishing himself as a top-tier striker. However, last season was a struggle, particularly at the start, due to fatigue and injury issues. This time around, the Norwegian forward has come in refreshed and raring to go, having had a quiet summer.
The win over Ipswich Town was impressive considering City were without the services of key players Kyle Walker and Phil Foden, who were late to rejoin the squad after their involvement in the Euro final. Additionally, Rodri is still recovering from a serious injury sustained during Spain’s European Championship campaign. Despite these absences, Manchester City’s dominant display and Haaland’s clinical finishing have sent out a strong message for the season ahead.
Guardiola’s comments will send ripples through the football community, and it’s easy to see why – Haaland’s numbers are indeed ‘ridiculous’. But he’ll need to maintain this kind of form to justify comparisons to Messi and Ronaldo. The challenge has been set, and it’s now up to Haaland to respond with consistent performances.
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