Pep Guardiola knew Erling Haaland was good before he signed him – but the Manchester City boss did not realise just how good.
Haaland, who returns to former club Borussia Dortmund for the first time on Tuesday night since his £51million summer move to City, cannot stop scoring for the Premier League champions. The 22-year-old has 22 goals from 14 appearances, including 17 in 11 Premier League games, to underline his status as the most prolific striker in world football.
Guardiola was acutely aware of Haaland's qualities from afar, but admitted he has been blown away by the forward's prowess now he is working up close with him on a daily basis.
“What has impressed me most is that I knew he was a guy for big transitions and that, over 30 or 40 metres, he's unstoppable,” said Guardiola. “But I didn’t know just how good he moves in small spaces in the box. In the end he has scored a lot of goals because he moves really well.
“He's so intuitive and especially the way he makes movements. He goes away from the action to be close to the ball. This type of movement isn't easy for a striker. He's so smart to make these movements in the right moments.
“Apart from that, his work ethic, he’s one of the first to arrive at the training centre and one of the last to leave. He takes care of his body perfectly. He's well educated in the way he has to live as a professional and I think has the intention to be better.
Where does Erling Haaland rank among the all-time Premier League signings? Share your thoughts in the comments below
“Of course, he’s scoring a lot of goals, and we're happy, because last season he had a lot of problems here in Dortmund and could not play regularly. This season, thanks to our physios and doctors and so on, he's being treated really well and he can play every three or four days.
“This is so important for us and for him, of course.”
Haaland plundered 86 goals in 89 games for Dortmund and is scoring at a similar rate for City, with the Norway international already on course to rewrite the Premier League goal records.
City defender Ruben Dias outlined how hard it is to face Haaland, having played against him in the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season, when the Blues came out on top.
“When you talk about the relationship between a striker and a defender, it's all about margins,” said Dias. With some guys, you can be 50/50 and know you're going to win.
“Erling is one of the few that makes you have to be 100 percent on your side.”
City and Guardiola will be looking to Haaland to maintain his formidable form on Tuesday night, with the Blues – already through to the knockout stage - needing a point to be confirmed as Group G winners.
But Guardiola, who faced Dortmund many times at Bayern Munich and who has three hard-fought 2-1 wins over them at City, knows his side will face a stern test tonight.
“They're good, always a tough opponent,” said Guardiola. “We have a lot of respect for them. We know that we'll have to play at our best to beat them, there's no doubt about that.
“When I was here in Germany, I faced Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel at Dortmund and it was a tough place to come. We're here, having already qualified, which is the most important thing, but for the prestige it's important to finish first.”
