Pep Guardiola says Erling Haaland's hat-trick was no surprise in Manchester City's comeback win over Crystal Palace, and the striker earned his goals by remaining focussed during a quiet first half.
Trailing 2-0 at half time, City were re-energised in the second half, with Bernardo Silva sparking a comeback finished emphatically by Haaland's three goals. That took the striker to six goals and one assist from four Premier League outings, with his third goal particularly impressive as he held off two defenders and fired in to send the Etihad into raptures.
Speaking after the game, Guardiola hailed Haaland, saying his reliability in front of goal means City will always have a chance in games even if they fall behind.
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"I'd say thanks to me for my brilliant ideas but I would say Erling has done this since he was born," Guardiola said of Haaland's hat-trick.
"Always has done this in his life, at Salzburg, BVB (Borussia Dortmund), always scored goals. These teams who defend deep he has an incredible sense of goal. The three goals, especially the last one, the first one as well, good goals.
"I will tell you the numbers, we score a lot of goals in previous seasons. It was different the quality of the players we have, but we score lots of goals. The problems we have now is we concede a lot, before was not the case. We have a lot of time. Right now we struggle to do the uncomfortable things we have to do but still don't do it. Important is learn the lesson, win the game."
Guardiola had extra praise for Guardiola's body language during the game, especially when City were behind, and the manager explained how the striker continues to settle into life at City.
"He came for that [scoring important goals], what he has done all his life, the numbers of this guy is beyond. The most important is he settled perfectly, an incredibly humble guy. He chats more with guys from the academy players and it means a lot.
"What I like of Erling is we are still knowing each other. Still need more time. I saw his body language at 0-2 down how he encouraged his mates. I had the feeling maybe he was not involved in the game but always he was there.
"He didn't run from the game, always is there. As a striker is incredible, he didn't touch the ball but had a feeling the ball was there and always involved. Football is here [head]. The quality of the first goal the cross is good, John Stones should run but he's there. tell me why, the sense of the strikers is there. The third, the same pass from Gundogan at West Ham, we spoke to put the ball to his feet of the central defenders.
"It was quite similar to West Ham how he use his body. He didn't shoot, he put it soft where the keeper cannot save. Look at the numbers, strikers is numbers, you see how many games in his career how many goals is astonishing."
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