Pep Guardiola has backed Erling Haaland to fire Manchester City to the Champions League title after playing down a dip in his remarkable goalscoring record this season.
The Norwegian has scored just one in his last seven games and his expected goals in that period is his lowest in four years, but Guardiola has absolutely no doubts about the striker. Haaland has scored 52 goals this season but his hopes of breaking the 60 goal barrier have fallen by the wayside.
But when Guardiola was asked about that record at his pre-match press conference at the Ataturk Stadium, he backed Haaland to deliver on Saturday night.
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"I'm not here to discuss the average for Haaland scoring goals. If you have doubts about that you are the only person, you will be lonely," he said. "I don't have doubts, tomorrow he will be ready to help us win the Champions League."
Guardiola also joked that Haaland and Lionel Messi had been the key to the incredible success the Catalan has achieved in his managerial career, as he bids to claim a third Champions League crown on Saturday.
"Have good players. Have Messi, have Haaland, this is my success," said Guardiola when asked what the secret was.
"I’m not joking. Let them think alone they cannot do it, together a strong team, the guys who follow us will be here and if not they won’t be here. Every manager who has had success have strong institutions and exceptional players, I’ve never scored a goal as a manager."
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