“Scored…More Than People Who are Getting a Lot of Compliments” – Erling Haaland Ending UCL Goal Drought in Manchester City’s Win Forces Pep Guardiola to Silence Critics

Published 10/26/2023, 3:48 AM EDT

In the world of soccer, there are certain moments that redefine a player’s stature amid harsh criticism. Erling Haaland, the Norwegian sensation, did just that in Manchester City’s recent Champions League victory against Young Boys. An emphatic brace from Haaland not only secured Man City’s win but also put a halt to his UEFA Champions League goal drought. As Erling Haaland’s European goal drought is over, Man City boss Pep Guardiola backed him to keep defying the critics.

The 23-year-old striker’s performance in this match is a reminder of his incredible talent and determination. However, it’s the comments from Pep Guardiola, which showcase the Spaniard’s faith in the Norwegian striker amid criticism this season.

Pep Guardiola’s unwavering support for Erling Haaland

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Pep Guardiola, who has been a vocal advocate for Erling Haaland even during challenging times, continues to show his support for the star striker. As Manchester City cruised past Swiss side Young Boys in the contesting Champions League clash, the Catalan manager took the opportunity to silence Haaland’s critics after he ended his Champions League goal drought.

[🎙️] Pep Guardiola on Erling Haaland: "What is important is creating chances and maybe in the right moment of the season he will be there even better than now. He has already scored a lot of goals in the #PL, more than people who are getting a lot of compliments…"
[@spbajko]
— City Zone (@City_Zone_) October 25, 2023

Guardiola’s message was clear and unwavering, “What is important is creating chances, and maybe in the right moment of the season, he will be even better than now. He has already scored a lot of goals in the Premier League, more than people who are getting a lot of compliments.” The comments from the Manchester City boss reflect his firm belief in Haaland’s ability to find the back of the net consistently. Guardiola is confident that amid the scrutiny, Haaland can score a lot of goals for a long time.

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Pep Guardiola also acknowledged the unrealistic expectations that are placed on the 23-year-old. He stated, “The people expect him to score four goals every time. The people want him to fail, the people expect he won’t do it, but I am sorry, this guy is going to score goals all his life with the chances, the incredible threat.” Despite Haaland’s current goal drought, and his low numbers as compared to last season, Guardiola believes in the young striker’s potential to become even more prolific in the coming years.

Haaland ends his UCL goal drought in style

Erling Haaland stole the spotlight once again when he opened his account in the UCL for Manchester City in their latest clash against Young Boys. Guardiola’s side dominated the match from the outset, but it took until the 48th minute for City defender Manuel Akanji to break the deadlock. Although Meschack Elia leveled the score for the Swiss side shortly after going behind, it just wasn’t enough for Young Boys, as Haaland’s heroics began. The 23-year-old striker powered the strike into the goal from the penalty spot, providing the lead to Manchester City. However, it was his second goal, a late strike, that truly silenced his critics and sealed the deal for Guardiola’s men.

Erling Haaland was the top scorer in last season’s UEFA Champions League campaign. However, since the last season’s UCL semi-final, Haaland failed to score in the competition. The Norwegian seems to find his footing once again in this campaign, and Manchester City fans will be delighted to see his return.

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As Manchester City gears up for the highly anticipated Manchester Derby against United at Old Trafford, all eyes will be on Erling Haaland. Fans will be hoping to see more of his goal-scoring prowess, and potentially tipping the scales in City’s favor against their neighborhood rivals.

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Written by:

Sahil Sharma is a soccer writer at EssentiallySports. He's been a fan since childhood, but his love for the sport truly took off when Real Madrid won their record 10th UEFA Champions League title in 2014. That famous La Decima triumph turned him into a hardcore Madridista.

Edited by:

Sreeda U M

“Scored…More Than People Who are Getting a Lot of Compliments” – Erling Haaland Ending UCL Goal Drought in Manchester City’s Win Forces Pep Guardiola to Silence Critics

Pep Guardiola’s unwavering support for Erling Haaland

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Haaland ends his UCL goal drought in style