In the aftermath of Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over Brentford, Pep Guardiola praised Erling Haaland’s remarkable campaign, highlighting the striker’s exceptional workload compared to other elite forwards.
Haaland netted City’s second goal at the weekend, bringing his season tally to 37 goals and eight assists across 50 appearances in all competitions. The Norwegian striker has been a constant presence during City’s most demanding stretch, starting every crucial fixture despite logging heavy minutes.
Guardiola reflected on Haaland’s form during his post-match press conference, acknowledging a challenging period mid-season while emphasizing his admiration for the forward’s sustained output.
“Erling is always Erling,” Guardiola stated. “It’s incredible! There was a period where he was so tired after returning from Norway’s international duty and struggled, but it’s because of the number of minutes. For example, I saw the minutes of Ousmane Dembele at PSG compared to Erling – he has 2,000 more! That’s a lot of minutes, and he keeps going. When Omar Marmoush was at AFCON, Erling remained a threat for opponents with his set-piece ability and goal-scoring instinct.”
Guardiola’s comparison with PSG’s Dembele underlines not only Haaland’s durability but his remarkable consistency. Despite carrying a heavier minute load than many top European attackers, Haaland continues delivering at an elite level.
The Catalan coach also offered a tactical insight, stressing the need for more City players to arrive in the box alongside Haaland to maximize his threat. “We have to bring more players closer to him when we attack from the flanks. If we have more bodies there, we’ll score more goals. When he’s isolated in the box, it’s very difficult for him to score.”
Saturday’s match against Brentford illustrated Guardiola’s point perfectly. In the closing stages, Haaland delivered a superb through-ball for Marmoush, who arrived late to slot home City’s third goal in a flowing team move.
With the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley and Premier League clashes against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa remaining, Haaland’s fitness and form remain pivotal to City’s trophy ambitions. Based on Guardiola’s comments, there appears little cause for concern.
