Pep Guardiola believes Erling Haaland is now scaling the heights reached by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after the Norwegian’s incredible season continued with another double.
Haaland took his tally for the campaign to an astonishing 44 as Manchester City threw down the gauntlet to Premier League leaders Arsenal by cutting the Gunners’ advantage to five points. His first was a routine header from a gorgeous Kevin De Bruyne cross. But Haaland’s second was a volley of such sublime beauty that even Southamptons fans felt obliged to applaud.
Guardiola has never been one to hype his own players. But the City boss couldn’t help himself as he gushed: “We have lived with [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano [Ronaldo] for two incredible decades - and now Haaland is on that level.