Pep Guardiola has set a new challenge for Erling Haaland, urging the prolific striker to evolve into a pressing “animal” and become more integral to Manchester City’s build-up play.
After two seasons and an astonishing 94 goals, Guardiola believes it’s time for Haaland to add another dimension to his game at City. “I like when he runs a lot. I like when he presses like an animal. I like it,” Guardiola remarked following Haaland’s 10th hat-trick in a City shirt. “It helps to score a goal. When you are connected defensively, you are connected offensively. When you are disconnected defensively and you run and the ball surprises you, you are not precise. We need him. This is not negotiable. If you don’t score a goal, it’s fine. But you need to do it [the pressing]. Especially when we link up with him, he has to control the ball better. But we are working with him on it. Hopefully, he can do it.”
The timing of Guardiola’s challenge is noteworthy. Haaland already has four goals from his first two games of the season and had just questioned whether he needed to be more involved in City’s build-up play. Guardiola’s revelation that he had a summer conversation with Haaland about his overall game suggests the striker was already aware of what was expected. Guardiola also mentioned that Haaland “changed his mind” after their talks, hinting at ongoing discussions about his role.
If Haaland hasn’t fully embraced these new demands, perhaps that’s why Guardiola chose to make his expectations public. And maybe another voice within the team, like Ilkay Gundogan, can help persuade the Norwegian to adapt.
Initially, Gundogan seemed to disagree with Guardiola’s assessment, saying, “If he plays on the same level like he used to when I was here or in my last year, then I don’t even think that he needs to improve. He just has to try to maintain that level and try to get the goals because that is his main job—work for the team, keep the ball, make it easier for players around him because, at the end, it’s going to be easier for himself. It’s always about supporting each other, helping each other, being close to each other when we are attacking.”
However, as Gundogan continued, he aligned more with Guardiola’s view on Haaland’s all-around contribution and how it can elevate City’s overall play. Having worked with Haaland during his first season at City, Gundogan sees a player with the mindset and drive to keep improving.
“When you have such numbers, of course, it is also about dealing with the expectations from people because they are always high,” Gundogan observed. “We all remember last year and the year before when he didn’t score for one, two, three games, people were already criticizing—asking if he fits the team, or this or that. And dealing with that at such a young age is not easy. But I have to say his behavior inside the dressing room, his attitude, the way he is with people, whether it’s players or staff, is just incredible. I think he is an example also as a human being of how we treat the people around him and also how he makes not just himself better but also us better. And that is why it is a big privilege to share the dressing room with him.”
Gundogan’s praise highlights Haaland’s potential to be more than just a goal scorer, suggesting that the striker’s evolution could be key to City’s continued success.
