Pep Guardiola described Erling Haaland as an "incredible professional" after the Norwegian striker scored twice in Manchester City's 3-1 Champions League win at Young Boys on Wednesday night.
City maintained their 100 per cent winning record in Group G with three victories, despite their pre-game concerns about playing on the slick artificial turf at rain-lashed Wankdorf Stadium. The defending champions can clinch their spot in the knockout stage when they play Young Boys again, this time at home, on November 7.
After Manuel Akanji's opener for City early in the second half had been cancelled out by Meschack Elia minutes later, Haaland restored City's lead with his first goal in six Champions League games with a penalty in the 67th minute after Mohamed Camara's tackle on Rodri in the box.
City's goal-scoring machine added a fabulous second goal when he moved the ball from his left foot to his right before firing it into the top corner in the 86th.
Haaland, who rewrote several scoring records last season, added another one on Wednesday, breaking Kylian Mbappe's mark as the youngest player to score 37 Champions League goals. The Norwegian striker, who is 23 years and 96 days old, did it in 33 games.
"[Haaland] has the pressure from what happened last season. Not just last season," Guardiola said. "He has to score seven goals every single game and it is impossible.
"He is happy. He scored a lot of goals. People want him to fail after scoring 52 goals.
"Maybe in the right moment of the season, he will be there even better than now. In the Champions League again he is there.
"We are really pleased he is a guy with hunger. He is so humble. He is an incredible professional. He is a great competitor."
While reserving special praise for Haaland, Guardiola was also pleased with the entire team.
"The result is good. Nine out of nine," he said. "Our positional game was exceptional. We talk about short passes on artificial pitches and long passes is more difficult to control it.
"We had chances but in general it was a really really good game. Very pleased for the performance. We could have scored more goals but it’s important to create the chances."
City are next in action in the Premier League on Sunday for a blockbuster derby match against local rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Young Boys v Man City player ratings
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YOUNG BOYS PLAYER RATINGS: Made a mess of what should have been a simple save, and almost spilled Grealish’s effort into his net on the half-hour mark. Did well to stop Doku and Rodri’s effort on the stroke of halftime. Could do little to keep out any of the three goals. Reuters -
Endured a difficult outing against the tricky Grealish. Struggled to cope with the Englishman all game but managed to send in a number of dangerous crosses into the Manchester City penalty area. Getty -
Had the tough task of dealing with the pacy Doku, Garcia had his hands full but never shied away from his responsibility. PA -
Got close to putting the home side ahead with an improvised flick in the 58th minute. Brilliant last-ditch tackle to stop Haaland from running through on goal on the hour mark. Guilty of giving away a penalty when he needlessly stepped on Rodri in the 65th minute. EPA -
Made a crucial goalline clearance to deny City a goal in the 31st minute. Stayed close to Haaland for most of the game and did his best to thwart the Norwegian’s effort, but he fell short. Getty -
Hardworking display from Ugrinic who tucked in and helped out Blum at right back. Tracked back well and stopped Alvarez from making it three with a last-ditch interception in the 78th minute. AP -
Tasked with protecting the back four, Lauper failed to deal with the attacking runs of Rodri, and exposed his backline. Took too long on the ball when put through on goal and allowed Ake to make a brilliant tackle in the 36th minute. AFP -
Grabbed the assist for the home side’s goal with a precise through ball to send Elia in on goal. Should have done better to close down Haaland in the build-up to City's third goal. EPA -
Picked up the first yellow card of the game in the fourth minute. Stung Ederson’s palms with a fierce effort that almost wrong-footed the goalkeeper on the hour mark. Struggled to get past Ake on the few occasions he had a chance to have a go at the Dutch international. AFP -
Brought the home side on level terms with a beautiful chipped effort to beat Ederson from the edge of the penalty area. Caused problems for right-back Lewis in the second half. AP -
Did well to burst forward from the halfway line but could only manage a weak effort when he had a chance to test Ederson in the 28th minute. Had a number of half-chances in the second half, but he failed to take any. AFP -
SUBS: (Itten, 73) Brought on to add fresh legs to the home side’s attack, Nsame failed to make the desired impact. Reuters -
(Moteiro, 73) Sent in a number of dangerous crosses after coming, but they were well dealt with by the City backline. Tested Ederson with a cross in the 81st minute. Reuters -
(Blum, 80) Faired better against the threat of Grealish after coming on. AFP -
(Lauper, 80) Never stopped running after coming but failed to make much of an impact. AFP -
(Garcia, 89) Came on too late to make an impact. Reuters -
MANCHESTER CITY PLAYER RATINGS: Got caught in two minds for the home side’s equaliser in the 52nd minute. Forced into a strong save by Monteiro just after the hour. AFP -
Gave Elia too much space in the build-up to the home side’s equaliser. Did well to skip past two yellow shirts and play Haaland through on goal in the 79th minute. Reuters -
An assured display next to Dias in the middle of the City defence. Opened the scoring for Pep Guardiola’s side with a close-range finish in the 48th minute. AP -
A leader at the back for Guardiola’s side. Hardly put a foot wrong. It was from his header, which came off the crossbar and into the path of Akanji, to put City in front. AFP -
Utilised at left-back, Ake didn't do much in attack but looked solid in defence. Excellent recovery tackle to thwart Lauper, who was bearing down on Ederson’s goal in the 37th minute. Reuters -
Tested Racioppi with a close-range shot on the stroke of halftime. Began the move that led to the opener with a clipped cross into the danger area for Dias. Won the penalty for Haaland to put the away side in front 67 minutes into the game. Assisted the third goal with a simple pass into Haaland in the penalty area. EPA -
Kept things simple in the middle of the pitch and never tried to do too much. Getty -
Almost caused a goal for the hosts with a wayward pass straight to a yellow shirt in the 23rd minute. Had a go from range in the second half, but his effort went high and wide. AP -
Jeered for most of the game due to an early clash with Blum, Grealish looked lively but seemed to lack the ruthlessness needed in front of goal. Lovely disguised pass to find Doku in the penalty area 20 minutes into the game. Getty -
Brilliant cross across the face of goal to tee up Kovacic in the 18th minute. Failed to beat Racioppi from point-blank range in the 25th minute. Forced Racioppi into a diving save in the 42nd minute. EPA -
Had his first real chance of the game in the 24th minute, but he fired wide from close range. However, he put the away side in front for the second time in the game with a well-taken penalty straight into the middle of the net. Made it three with a right-footed finish high into the roof of the net. Getty -
SUBS: (Nunes, 72) Thought he had made it three minutes after coming on, but the goal was ruled out for a handball by Grealish in the build-up. Combined well with Haaland after coming on. AP -
(Doku, 72) Went close with a left-footed curled effort that just went wide in the 83rd minute. AP -
(Haaland, 90) Didn’t have much time to get into the game. Getty -
(Rodri, 90) A classic case of winding the clock down, Phillips’ introduction helped City get the job over the line. Reuters
