Pep Guardiola raised some eyebrows this week with his response to the ways in which Erling Haaland compares - or rather, doesn't compare - to his former player Lionel Messi.
"The difference is that maybe Erling needs all his teammates," explained the Manchester City boss, after watching Haaland net a hat-trick against Man United on the weekend- his third in eight games this season. "While Messi had the ability to do it on his own."
Guardiola's comments were perhaps designed to keep Haaland grounded. City splashed big cash on the Norway international this summer in the hope that the striker will prove to be the missing piece of the 'Champions League trophy' puzzle.
And while Haaland is flying high at the moment, Guardiola knows it's important to keep his players motivated - after all, there is always room for improvement, even if you are the most in-form footballer in the world right now.
Peter Crouch and Owen Hargreaves were asked for their thoughts on Guardiola's comments ahead of Man City's Champions League clash with Copenhagen on Wednesday night and agreed the Spaniard was perhaps a little harsh on Haaland.
Hargreaves said on BT Sport: "Messi is one of a kind, we are never ever going to get another Messi. But I think Haaland is unique in the fact that I don't think we've seen a kid score goals like this, this explosive at such a young age."
Crouch added: "He's answered every single question: Can he do the next level, can he do the next level, can he do it in the Champions League? His stats for Norway are ridiculous.
"Salzburg, Dortmund the same. It's easy to say he's got Kevin de Bruyne behind him, one of the best creative midfielders we've ever seen, but he's done it at every team he's been at."
Haaland has shown no signs his success has gone to his head and recently claimed his dad's cooking has been behind his recent stunning form, explaining the pair ate lasagne before the derby.
"I've had it before every home game now and that turns out fairly well, so there has to be something special he adds to it," the Norwegian told the press. "I help out very little. I mostly lie on the couch watching him. That's the way it works."
