Pep Guardiola assesses Erling Haaland display in Manchester City win over Bournemouth
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said Erling Haaland did well with what he was offered in his side's 4-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday.
The Premier League champions made it two wins to begin the season after their opening day triumph away at West Ham last weekend.
Jack Grealish was dropped to the bench as Riyad Mahrez lined up for his first Premier League start of the season, with Bernardo Silva again named amongst the substitutes.
Advert
After netting a brace on his Premier League debut at the London Stadium last time out, Erling Haaland dominated much of the pre game chat ahead of his first outing at the Etihad Stadium.
The 22-year-old joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund for £51 million this summer as one of the most exciting acquisitions made by the Sky Blues since 2008.
Haaland netted on his first outing for the club he grew up supporting as he netted the winner in Manchester City's 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in pre-season.
After failing to assert his dominance against Liverpool, when City lost 3-1 in the Community Shield at the King Power Stadium, there was doubts raised over whether Haaland would be able to perform against the very best of English football.
However, the Norway international shut his critics in supreme fashion by scoring a fine brace on the opening day of the campaign against West Ham.
The first of those coming from the penalty spot after Haaland himself won the spot kick for the visitors before finishing off a silky move as he latched onto an inch-perfect through ball from Kevin De Bruyne to send the Hammers home.
However, against a deep-lying Bournemouth side on Saturday, Haaland failed to get on the scoresheet though he did set up Ilkay Gundogan's opener and impress in general with his movement and hold-up play.
The Leeds-born forward was left frustrated after Phil Foden decided to go for glory in the opening half when the England international could have found Haaland in the middle to tap home.
Following his side's victory, Pep Guardiola said: "The most difficult job in the world is when you are a striker against a (defence) with three central midfielders, three centre-backs and you are in the middle," as quoted by Sam Lee of the Athletic.
"We will find many of these situations but it's a question of time. With the quality of player we have behind him (Haaland), we will find him."
Haaland is expected to get accustomed to operating against deep-lying backlines as he gets more minutes under his belt in the Premier League.
The young striker has impressed since his arrival to Manchester and his ability to draw defenders in and create space for others provides encouragement for Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff.
City next travel to St. James' Park to face Newcastle before a trip to Barcelona in the days that follow to take on the Blaugrana in a friendly.
Topics: Manchester City, Premier League, Bournemouth, Pep Guardiola, Erling Haaland, Scott Parker
Vayam Lahoti