Jude Bellingham claimed Manchester City's winner was "Erlingesque" after their Norwegian forward scored a late winner against Borussia Dortmund.
Erling Haaland was coming up against his former team, whom he left in the summer to pursue a new challenge with the English champions. Already the forward has begun with a bang and he finished excellently to ensure City remain at 100% in the Champions League.
Bellingham had given the Germans the lead after their impressive game plan had stifled the hosts before John Stones lashed home a thunderbolt from 20 yards to level the contest. Just four minutes later and Haaland then turned home Joao Cancelo's cross with an acrobatic finish.
It drew comparisons with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the prolific Swedish star. Bellingham was asked if the winner was “Zlatanesque?” - but he simply replied: “Well, Erlingesque.”
The goal was Haaland's third in the Champions League this term after he'd notched a brace against Sevilla last week. All in all it places his tally for the year at 13 from just nine games.
His finish also saw his manager drawing comparisons with the legendary Johan Cruyff, who finished in a similar way decades ago at the Nou Camp. He said: “The people who know me maybe know the influence Johan Cruyff had on my life as a person, as an educator, as a mentor, as a coach and everything.
“Years ago Johan Cruyff scored an incredible goal in Camp Nou for Barcelona against Atlético Madrid similar to Haaland. The moment Erling scored I thought: ‘Johan Cruyff’. It was quite, quite similar. It was an incredible assist by João and the finishing from Erling was exceptional.”
Guardiola also added: “I remember my dear friend Ibrahimovic had this ability to put his leg on the roof and Erling is quite similar in that. I think it is his nature, he is elastic, he is flexible, and after that he has the ability to make the contact and put the ball in the net. I think his mum and dad give him that flexibility.”
City were forced to bide their time at the Etihad but remain top of their Champions League group with their Catalan manager acknowledging their difficulties. He claimed: “We had a lot of problems to reach our rhythm and were so passive in our movements.
"We struggled. We played in the wrong gear. When we realise we are 1-0 down and have the dynamic of Phil, Bernardo and Julián, that gave us another rhythm. The Champions League doesn’t wait and it doesn’t forgive you.”
