Manchester City: Pep Guardiola Sees Lionel Messi Qualities in Erling Haaland
On Sunday, during the Premier League match against Bournemouth, Erling Haaland once again impressed by scoring twice. Pep Guardiola expressed amazement at the Norwegian striker, comparing his impact to that of Lionel Messi.
Haaland's Impact in the Match
Haaland delivered a commanding performance as Manchester City won 3-1 over Bournemouth. Guardiola highlighted that the striker is performing at a level comparable to Messi, the legendary FC Barcelona forward.
"With Erling, it’s like when you play with Messi or Ronaldo—he has that kind of influence. The difference is that Messi and Ronaldo have maintained this level for 15 years. I’ve often said how easy he is to coach and manage. Sometimes I’m tough on him, but he’s open-minded. He lives for goals, and sometimes the pressure is too intense to last the full 90 minutes, but that’s normal," said Guardiola.
Season Highlights
- 26 goals for club and country
- 13 Premier League goals in 10 games
- Recently introduced a new robot celebration
💙🇳🇴 26 goals for club and country, 13 Premier League goals in 10 games……and new robot celebration for Erling Haaland, dropped today. 🤖
— Fabrizio Romano, November 2, 2025
Author’s Summary
Pep Guardiola admires Haaland’s remarkable influence on the pitch, likening his talent and presence to that of football icons Messi and Ronaldo.
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