Featured Image Credit: UEFA/PA
Topics: Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Erling Haaland, RB Leipzig, Football, Champions League
Marcus Chan
Topics: Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Erling Haaland, RB Leipzig, Football, Champions League
Pep Guardiola responded brilliantly after being asked q question about his decision to bring Erling Haaland off after his five-goal haul against RB Leipzig.
On Tuesday night, Manchester City sealed a place in the Champions League quarter-finals after a stunning 7-0 win against Leipzig.
Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne added to Haaland’s five goals to complete the rout.
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After scoring a hattrick in the first half, Haaland quickly added two more in the 53rd and 57th minute as he looked to net a double hattrick.
However, the Norway superstar was denied that chance when City boss Guardiola decided to replace him with Julian Alvarez in the 63rd minute.
When asked about his decision after the match, the Spaniard gave a brilliant answer.
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He said: “If he would have achieved that at 22 he would be bored in his future!
“He wouldn't have a target to reach in the future. Here and everywhere. That's why I make a substitution. I didn't know about Messi with Leverkusen (when he scored five against them in 2012), but I make a substitution because normally when the game is over we want them to play.
“He scored five goals. The problem is every time we don't score two or three he will be criticised. This is the reality.”
Guardiola also praised Haaland’s all-round display in what was a breathtaking performance.
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He added: “Most of the time, when he scores hat-tricks after 60-65 minutes I make a substitution.
“Today he scored five but touched 30-35 ball contacts. This is what we're looking for. When you're involved in a game defensively, the ball comes to score goals you're more clever, more precise. Gundogan scores goals, he can do it. Sometimes it's his fault, sometimes he doesn't move.
“For example at Crystal Palace he didn't move, I said 'you didn't play good today'. Other days it is our fault, like in Leipzig we didn't find him. Sooner or later we're working a bit, everyone we try to make the process quicker.”
City will find out who their quarter-final opponents are when the draw takes place on Friday.