Kevin De Bruyne believes Erling Haaland will become an even better striker following his blistering start to the campaign.
The Manchester City forward, 22, has scored 12 goals in his first eight games for the Premier League champions after completing a £51million summer move from Borussia Dortmund. Two of those strikes came in the 4-0 win away at Sevilla on Tuesday night.
Despite his age, Haaland is already one of the deadliest strikers in Europe. The Norway international has scored 25 goals in just 20 Champions League appearances and was prolific during his time in the Bundesliga, finding the net 62 times in 67 games.
Worryingly for City's rivals, though, De Bruyne thinks there is a lot more to come from Haaland. "I try to do my job, make the right movements and try to create as many chances as I can," De Bruyne told BT Sport when asked about Haaland's 20th-minute opener.
"I know, one way or another, Erling is going to be there. For the moment he is scoring the goals and obviously it helps us win games, and it is a pretty good thing for him. A perfect start. The way he has adapted to us is really good but I think outside the goalscoring there is another part in the game, and I think that part is maybe more tough to adapt to.
"But it makes it more exciting that if he can adjust to the way we play then the level is going to go up and that is what we demand from him. If you score that much you can get away with a little bit more but he knows, and we know, we can still do better."
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As well as Haaland's brace, goals from Phil Foden and Ruben Dias ensured City made a perfect start to their Champions League campaign. The European Cup is the one trophy that continues to elude them after securing every domestic honour under Guardiola.
City's result puts them top of Group G, with Haaland's old club Dortmund in second thanks to a 3-0 win against Danish outfit Copenhagen on Tuesday night. Guardiola's side will take on Dortmund at the Etihad next Wednesday, a game they are expected to win.
On City's performance against Sevilla, De Bruyne added: "The first away game is very important. You have to set a tone and I think we did that today. Obviously it was a good performance, a good victory and it is nice to start it [that way]."
Guardiola, meanwhile, said: "We made not a good first half – we wanted to attack too quick. When they were playing better we scored the second one with a brilliant action from Phil. Then after it was easier. We gave more passes.
"Sometimes we want to rush so quick because Erling is there. You have this attraction of him, we want to attack it sometimes. We have to be more patient."
On whether Haaland's presence could disrupt City's play, Guardiola added: "I didn’t say that! I prefer to have him."
