In an interview with Manchester World, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his desire for striker Erling Haaland to contribute more to his teammates.
Haaland joined Man City from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022 for £60 million. Over the past two years, the Norwegian star has proven his abilities, becoming one of the top strikers in both England and Europe.
In the last two Premier League seasons, the 24-year-old forward has won the Golden Boot consecutively with 36 and 27 goals, respectively. His consistent goal-scoring has significantly contributed to Manchester City’s collection of prestigious titles, including the Premier League, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup.
Last weekend, Haaland continued his nightmare for the top tier of English football with a hat-trick against newly-promoted Ipswich Town, leading Man City to a 4-1 comeback victory at the Etihad Stadium.
However, according to Guardiola, the former RB Salzburg star would become even more perfect if he improved his ball control and became more involved in the team’s buildup play.
“Yes, when we move the ball to attack, Haaland needs to control the ball better, but we are working on this issue and hope that he will improve,” Guardiola said on Manchester World. “He is doing well; last season, he had many injuries. This season, I feel he is healthier. After each training session, he usually stays behind to work on his passing and ball control. This didn’t happen last season because he wasn’t in peak physical condition.”
With 4 goals in the first 2 matches of the Premier League 2024/25, Haaland continues to lead the Golden Boot race.