Pep Guardiola's reaction to Erling Haaland's hat-trick is incredible, he's his biggest cheerleader

Footage shows that Pep Guardiola is officially Erling Haaland's biggest cheerleader after his incredible hat-trick against Crystal Palace.

City came from 2-0 down to beat the Eagles 4-2, with all of their goals coming in the second half at the Etihad Stadium.

Bernardo Silva pulled one back and from then on it was the Haaland show as City's No.9 bagged three times in a stunning 19-minute period.

His goal to secure his first Premier League hat-trick saw him latch onto an Ilkay Gundogan pass, shrug off Joel Ward with ease before supplying a clinical finish past Vicente Guaita.

Haaland is now the league's leading goalscorer with six goals in four games and is averaging a goal every 54 minutes.

He was replaced by debutant Sergio Gomez six minutes from time and received a standing ovation from all four corners of the Etihad Stadium.

Image: Alamy

But nobody was given a bigger applause than his manager, Guardiola. As Haaland made his way off the pitch, the City boss was vigorously clapping his £51 million signing.

The two then shared one of the most intense embraces you'll ever see from a player and manager.

Image: Alamy

Haaland was signed to make the difference and provide that all-important touch in the final third after City played a couple of seasons without a recognised striker.

And Guardiola was delighted with the hat-trick for Haaland, though he was not surprised by his three-goal haul.

"Erling has done [what he has done] since he was born,” Guardiola said, as per the official Manchester City website.

"He has done what he has done all his life, in Salzburg and everywhere he has been he has scored goals.

“Against these type of teams, we struggle because they defend so deep, but he has an incredible sense of goal.

“The three (he scored), especially the last one, but the first one as well, were all good goals.

“The numbers for this guy are beyond. The most important thing is that he has settled perfectly, and he is an incredibly humble guy.

“He is a lovely person. He chats more with the guys from the academy and that means a lot.

“Hopefully, he can be happy the time we are together.”

Topics: Erling Haaland, Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Crystal Palace

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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