LONDON — Pep Guardiola has hailed Erling Haaland’s “incredible instinct” for goal and admitted there is nothing he can teach the prolific striker.
Haaland continues to command most of the attention at Guardiola’s Manchester City after making a stunning start at the club.
The Norwegian has scored 19 goals in just 12 appearances since his summer move from Borussia Dortmund, including three hat-tricks.
He again demonstrated his remarkable ability in front of goal with two more strikes in Wednesday’s Champions League thrashing of FC Copenhagen.
His second that night was an instinctive poacher’s finish after a parry by the goalkeeper, a goal that was greeted by a look of almost disbelief from Guardiola on the touchline.
Explaining his reaction, Guardiola said at a press conference: “It is not about disbelief! It is the fact that it was a deflection and he was there.
“Why did the ball finish there? He has an incredible instinct. What can I teach him? He has an incredible sense as a striker of where the ball is going to finish and he goes one second before the ball arrives.
“He has this talent, this quality. All the time – a cross, a deflection – he is there. This type of player – how can a manager teach him? It is impossible. It is instinct, completely natural.
“He did it in Norway, in Austria, in Germany and he does it here. He smells it. Thank you so much to him for choosing us, and to all the people involved bringing him here. We are fortunate to have this talent with us.”
Most of the headlines written about City this season have involved Haaland. Guardiola thinks that would cause jealousy or resentment at other clubs, but not among his squad.
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