Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola giving a press conference

Manchester City: Pep Guardiola says ‘no one can compete with’ prolific Erling Haaland

October 4, 2022 Sports 1 Views

Pep Guardiola has labelled Erling Haaland incomparable for his age, after the Manchester City (opens in new tab) striker continued his destructive start to Premier League life with a hat-trick in Sunday’s 6-3 win over Manchester United (opens in new tab).

Haaland’s latest three-goal haul saw him become the first player in Premier League history to hit a hat-trick in three successive home games – and took his tally for the season to 17 in all competitions.

By one measure, the Norwegian is currently on course to end the campaign with 70 Premier League goals alone.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring a goal in Manchester City 6-3 Manchester United in the Premier League on 2 October, 2022 at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, United Kingdom — Haaland has netted in each of his last eight games for City (Image credit: Matt McNulty – Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

City host Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday night, and their manager has been singing Haaland’s praises prior to that game. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Guardiola said (opens in new tab):

“At his age, no one can compete with him. The numbers speak for themselves and inside – in the locker room – and on the pitch, we see things that are not in the stats that make us feel happy to have him here.”

Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Phil Foden during a training session — Haaland and Phil Foden both scored hat-tricks against Manchester United on Sunday (Image credit: Tom Flathers/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

Haaland has struck three times in this season’s Champions League – including an audaciously-finished winner against former club Borussia Dortmund (opens in new tab) in City’s last group outing.