Pep Guardiola had a stern warning to the critics who are doubting Erling Haaland following Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Brentford in the Premier League.
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Haaland bounce back
The Norwegian superstar delivered a game-winning goal in the 71st minute to City into second place in the table – just a point behind leaders Liverpool.
Haaland was a man on the mission following his multiple sorry misses in the draw against Chelsea on Saturday.
Guardiola took the opportunity to throw shots at Haaland’s critics and even journalists.
“With top scorers or strikers who score a lot of goals, don’t criticize 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.”
The 23-year-old came back from a two-month layoff after sustaining a foot injury in December.
Haaland also lost his grandmother just days before returning with City.
“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,” said Guardiola. “That is not easy for a human being.”
Guardiola also threw shades at some journalists by saying: “I am a manager. My life is better than yours.”
Meanwhile, Man City is still missing the services of Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne due to a hamstring injury.
“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.”
