Haaland: “Guardiola is not always pleasant, but he confronts you with the truth.”

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In an extensive interview granted to ‘L’Équipe,’ the Norwegian ‘Cyborg’ talked about his relationship with the coach from Santpedor, the spectacular form of Bellingham, and his chances of winning the 2023 Ballon d’Or.

Erling Haaland’s first year at Manchester City was hardly improvable. The Norwegian ‘Cyborg,’ who turned 23 in July, scored 52 goals in all competitions and broke the goal-scoring record of Andy Cole and Alan Shearer in the Premier League, while the ‘skyblue’ team achieved a historic Treble, culminating in the club’s first-ever Champions League title.

“It will be difficult to do better. Everyone expects more from us after the Treble. Last year, everyone wanted to beat us in the Premier League because we were the champions, and this season, all of Europe wants to beat us,” said Haaland in an extensive interview with ‘L’Équipe,’ in which he admitted, “I didn’t expect to break the goal-scoring record in the Premier League in my first season in England. But, given the quality of the team, by mid-season, I knew it was possible,” he pointed out.

Pep Guardiola is largely responsible for it, with whom Haaland admits to having a “very good relationship. He is very demanding of his work and very direct and honest in what he says. It was evident in the first match against Burnley – where Guardiola reprimanded him on the field at halftime – but I appreciate it because he is passionate. He’s not always pleasant, but he confronts you with the truth, and I know his goal is to make you a better player,” said the Scandinavian.

When asked about what Pep Guardiola told him to convince him to sign for Manchester City when he was sought after by much of Europe, Haaland acknowledges that “the style of play that Manchester City has developed in recent seasons was crucial. It spoke for itself. I really wanted to be a part of that ‘tiki-taka’ adapted to the Premier League, and I made the best choice possible because we have made history,” he continued.

I’m happy for Bellingham.

Haaland also commented on the spectacular form of Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, with whom he played at Borussia Dortmund. “I watched his debut at Real Madrid, and I’m very happy for him. I’m passionate about football, it’s what I’ve always liked, and it’s fair to say that it occupies all my time, both professionally and in my life,” he confessed before addressing his chances of winning the 2023 Ballon d’Or.