Pep Guardiola hailed Erling Haaland's fiftieth Champions League aim in a report 49 video games and stated he was now within the firm of the “monsters Cristiano and Messi” within the competitors's all-time best scorers, as Manchester Metropolis beat Napoli 2-0 within the opening group match.
Haaland's 56th-minute opener was his twelfth in seven appearances for Metropolis and Norway, Jérémy Doku's second clinching victory for Guardiola's aspect. Haaland beat Ruud van Nistelrooy's earlier 62-appearance mark for 50 targets.
His supervisor stated: “What can I say? The numbers converse for themselves. We're fortunate to have him. Simply to congratulate him, as a result of he's alongside goalscorers like Van Nistelrooy, Lewandowski, however particularly the 2 monsters Cristiano and Messi for 20 years: for Erling to be there may be unbelievable.”
Guardiola was requested if Haaland would possibly beat Ronaldo's report tally of 140 Champions League targets. “In that rhythm, yeah,” the Catalan stated. “He's not injured, he might play for 10 or 12 extra years, and if he maintains this development – completely.”
Guardiola believes Haaland is best this season. “Yeah. It's a query of taking part in lots, expertise, [be involved in] extra vital video games and his mentality as nicely,” stated the 54-year-old.
Phil Foden's chip created Haaland's strike towards Napoli, the No 47 having additionally scored in Sunday's 3-0 win over Manchester United. “The final two video games have been the Phil that we all know,” stated Guardiola. “When he performs near Erling within the 12 months we gained the fourth Premier League in a row Phil was the perfect participant within the Premier League. We're so glad as a result of I do know he's glad and his pleasure and his life is okay, the remainder is pure. His unbelievable expertise comes alongside.”
Antonio Conte defined why he substituted Kevin De Bruyne when his captain, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, was despatched off on 21 minutes. “It was the one choice I might do,” stated the pinnacle coach. “I used to be actually sorry for him because it's the sport towards his outdated workforce however Kevin understood very nicely. I had solely this resolution, this feature.”
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Conte was happy the loss was not heavier. “They may have pulled our pants down however they didn't,” he stated.
