In the wake of Erling Haaland’s pivotal goal against Brentford, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola staunchly defended his star striker, sending a strong message to critics.
Erling Haaland’s spectacular winner against Brentford not only secured a crucial victory for Manchester City but also showcased his resilience amid personal challenges.
The Norwegian striker, who recently lost his grandmother and faced criticism for missed chances in the previous game against Chelsea, responded emphatically with a decisive goal. Manager Pep Guardiola defended Haaland, emphasizing the striker’s ability to silence critics and highlighting the difficult week he had faced.
“With top scorers or strikers who score a lot of goals, don’t criticise because he will shut your mouth, that’s for sure,” said Guardiola. “Sooner or later, he is there.
“Definitely, if I have to choose one [player to be running through on goal], I choose this one. He was out with injury for two months and is not in his best shape and just had an incredibly tough week because he lost his grandmother. That is not easy for a human being.”
Guardiola, known for his unwavering support for his players, particularly emphasized Haaland’s strength during a tough period. The manager pointed out that Haaland had been dealing with an injury that kept him out for two months, and despite not being in his best shape, he demonstrated his goal-scoring prowess when the team needed it the most.
In addition to praising Haaland’s performance, Guardiola provided insights into Kevin de Bruyne’s absence. The Belgian playmaker was sidelined due to a hamstring issue, with Guardiola opting for caution to avoid any risks. De Bruyne, who had already spent five months off the pitch due to injury, was deemed not fit enough to participate in the Brentford clash.
“Today we could not use Kevin because he had niggles in his hamstring and I didn’t want to take risk,” he said. “He’s OK. It’s just a precaution but he didn’t feel comfortable, and so after five months off we didn’t take any risk.”
Guardiola’s comments about being a manager rather than a journalist added a touch of humor to the post-match discussion, reinforcing his focus on leading his team. Despite facing challenges and criticism, Guardiola remains steadfast in his belief in Haaland’s abilities and is determined to navigate Manchester City’s title race with confidence.
Haaland continues to make history, his decisive goal against Brentford marking another milestone in Manchester City’s title quest. With this strike, he achieves a remarkable feat: scoring against all 21 Premier League opponents he has faced, a record only previously matched by Harry Kane, with 32 out of 32.
Only two other players have played against 20 or more teams and only failed to score against one of them – Thierry Henry (34 out of 35) and Sergio Aguero (32 out of 33). Joining an elite group with players like Thierry Henry and Sergio Aguero, Haaland’s achievement underscores his prowess in the league.
Despite recent struggles, Haaland’s focus remained on the game rather than records. Following a challenging performance against Chelsea and personal loss, he faced criticism suggesting a dip in form. However, his resilience shone through as he seized the moment against Brentford, silencing doubters with a clinical finish.
His goal not only secured a crucial win for City but also propelled him ahead in the Golden Boot race, further highlighting his impact despite recent setbacks. With 53 goals in just 55 Premier League appearances, Haaland’s consistency and ability to deliver under pressure defy any notions of a form slump.
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