Pep Guardiola has declared that Erling Braut Haaland’s goalscoring talents are so obvious that even a blind man can see them as he denied Manchester City’s lack of a £100 million ($139m) player will put them at a disadvantage in their bid to become champions of Europe.
Haaland, who is the 10-goal top scorer in this season’s Champions League, has 49 goals in 50 games for Borussia Dortmund and Guardiola thinks the best way to halt the Norwegian prodigy is to keep him out of City’s penalty box on Tuesday night.
While Guardiola said on Friday that it was "impossible" for City to sign a big-money striker this summer as a replacement for the departing Sergio Aguero, they are tipped to enter the contest for Haaland and the Catalan is a fan of the young Norwegian.
“To score that number of goals at his age is not easy to find in the past,” he said. “He’s 20 years old and the numbers speak for themselves. When that happens it’s because he can score with the right, the left, the counter attacks, in the box. When you dominate and [with] the headers in the box. He’s a fantastic striker, everyone knows it. A blind guy would realise he’s a good striker. It’s not necessary to be a manager to realise it.
“The striker who scores goals has more chances to score when they are in our box, when they have as much minutes as far away they have less chances. It is a question of mathematics. I am not a mathematician. But Jamie Vardy, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah – all the strikers in the world – they want to be there as much as possible so the best way is to avoid them being there.”
Guardiola again downplayed talk of a move for Haaland, adding: “Of course he’s exceptional but it’s not appropriate for me to talk about him.” But while Dortmund insist they want Haaland to stay, the striker could become one of the world’s costliest signings. City have never spent remotely close to £100m on a player, or paid one of the 25 biggest fees, but Guardiola does not believe that is a hindrance.
“The fact we have not spent for one player a lot of money does not give you advantage,” he said. “Football is a team game, everyone makes his contribution, the guys who doesn’t play makes his contribution.
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Seven strikers who could replace Sergio Aguero at Man City
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Sergio Aguero's imminent exit leaves Manchester City searching for a new centre-forward, but who will replace the Argentine? Browse through the photo gallery to see seven potential options. Reuters -
Lionel Messi is a reported target for Manchester City if he does not sign a contract extension with Barcelona - but could Aguero signing for Barca convince him to stay? PA -
Kylian Mbappe is one of the top strikers in Europe, and as he approaches the final year of his PSG contract, could a tempting offer bring PSG to the negotiating table? AFP -
Erling Braut Haaland is the top choice among many Manchester City fans to replace Aguero, but City could face competition from Real Madrid. Getty Images -
Harry Kane would appear to be an ideal fit for City, but Tottenham could price their Premier League rivals out of any potential deal. EPA -
Danny Ings would represent a more affordable and realisitc option. He may not provide the glamour of others on this shortlist, but he would bring goals. AFP -
Lautaro Martinez has been a long-term target for Barcelona, but he also fits the profile of a Pep Guardiola strriker. AFP -
Andre Silva has been scoring regularly for Eintracht Frankfurt and would cost significantly less than the likes of Mbappe and Haaland. Getty Images
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"So far the club has decided not to spend not close to £100m for a player, maybe in the future it is going to happen, But so far the club decided not to do it and that’s why they didn’t do it.”
While they face Haaland, City’s top scorer is the last player they signed from Dortmund. Ilkay Gundogan has chipped in with 16 goals from midfield. “I’m delighted the recognition for him scoring goals and making assists, I know how he behaved when he’s not played good,” said Guardiola.
“He’s an incredible human being. You deserve what you get when this happens. The year we won the second Premier League [in 2018-19] with 98 points, he was incredible as holding midfielder, now he is scoring.”
Midfielder Rodri added: “He has had a stunning season, an unbelievable season, not only because of the goals and assists. We have to pass him the ball, that’s the reality.”
City exited the Champions League at the quarter-final stage in each of the last three seasons and Guardiola admitted that the 2020 defeat to Lyon hurt.
“It remained in my head for weeks and it was painful, I cannot deny,” he said. “We didn’t deserve to go through but we are here again.”
