Erling Haaland is close to completing his second tenure at Manchester City. And the player is expected to be at his best every game despite scoring ample goals in two seasons. However, Pep Guardiola has opened up about the criticism he is gaining after going blank against Real Madrid in the last game.

The Norwegian was held back once again by Los Blancos’ defense in the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League. Nevertheless, understanding the pressure behind Erling Haaland, Pep is not bothered about his form. According to reports, Pep said, “We scored three goals… he had two central defenders near him.” In addition, he felt the need for the team’s improvement rather than just Haaland’s.

Pep further stated, “[Erling] Haaland is a young player, he has margins to improve but it’s more about the team than him to get better…” citing that there is more time in hand for the 2023 Ballon d’Or runner-up.

The Sky Blues have been relentless in pulling out crucial results this season. The 6-goal draw at Santiago Bernabeu was more than a desired result for the club. And despite the Norwegian being silent on the scorebook, his ability to pull more defenders is an advantage for Pep Guardiola. More importantly, it was the result that nullified Erling Haaland’s blank, pulling Real Madrid to their den for the ultimate battle.

Significantly, City is almost unconquerable at the Etihad. The club’s last continental trophy home loss was more than 30 games ago in 2018 against Olympique Lyon. However, you can never be certain of a win playing against the 14-time European champions. The current holders will be reminded of the 2022 semifinals when Carlo Ancelotti’s men came from a goal deficit to stun them in the second leg. Hence, Haaland will look to be effective next time around. On the other hand, Pep Guardiola seems to back Haaland despite heavy criticism from pundits.

Experts continue taking a dig at Erling Haaland despite appreciation backing from rival managers

It wasn’t just Pep Guardiola, but even Carlo Ancelotti expects Erling Haaland to rise along with Jude Bellingham in the second leg after being goalless. Adding Kylian Mbappe to the list, Ancelotti was reported saying, “Watch out for the three you mentioned,” citing their comeback. Meanwhile, Haaland was subject to heavy criticism last week, especially from Roy Keane, who called his non-goal-scoring abilities equivalent to a second-tier player. Additionally, former Real Madrid player Rafael van der Vaart said, “If he doesn’t score, he’s quite useless,” talking about the 23-year-old’s gameplay.

Nevertheless, it is his manager who has the most important call. The former Barcelona remains a firm believer, insisting the striker will silence his doubters with goals. But can Haaland prove his manager right by repeating his heroics for the rest of the season? Let us know in the comments.

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