FIND OUT MORE FROM THE STAR TOP: Pep Guardiola and Erling Braut Haaland, here during a training session at the Etihad Campus earlier this week. Photo: Martin Rickett / Pa Photos / NTB
MANCHESTER (VG) Compared to the first eight games last season, Erling Braut Haaland’s tally of big chances has been surprisingly weaker. Pep Guardiola just shrugs.
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Erling Braut Haaland has, according to the statistics from Opta, had a weaker outcome on big chances this season compared to the start of last season. He has converted 29 percent of the big chances into goals, against 60 percent last season. Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, was confronted with these figures before Saturday’s game against Nottingham Forest. He reacted with irony and stated that Haaland is still the top scorer in the Premier League, with seven goals in five games. Guardiola noted that Haaland has had many chances, could have scored 14-15 goals already, and emphasized that the important thing was that he had the chances .He also advised the press not to criticize Haaland too much, as he will continue to score goals. He pointed out that Haaland’s physical size could make it more difficult to find the rhythm in training after a long and demanding Asia tour. Show more
VG confronted the Manchester City manager with the statistics at the press conference before Saturday’s match against Nottingham Forest.
– Oh. It is good. It’s a lot … I couldn’t sleep last night, says Guardiola when asked if the numbers worry him.
He was ironic and tugged at the smiley face. Several journalists had to chuckle at the City manager’s answer.
Guardiola then serves up a proper response. Haaland is the top scorer in the Premier League with his seven goals in five games.
But he has also, according to the statistics service Opta, converted 29 percent of the big chances into goals during the first eight games of the season. This applies to all tournaments.
Last season, the figure was 60 percent.
Graphics: www.sofascore.com
– He has had some incredible chances. Could have scored 14-15 goals already. But the debate would remain the same. The important thing, as he says, is that “I have the chances. The problem is when I don’t get the opportunities, the balls I want or that I’m in the wrong position.”
– Don’t criticize Erling too much. That’s my advice. Criticize the defenders, the centre-backs, the manager, but never in the world the striker who has scored so many goals because he will. You will feel that you have to apologize, says Guardiola.
It was perhaps no wonder he was peppered with Haaland questions on Friday. For nine of these missed chances have come in the league match against West Ham last Saturday and the Champions League match against Røde Stjerne on Tuesday.
Graphics: sofascore.com
Guardiola was asked, among other things, whether the Norwegian is as sharp in the first six weeks of this year’s season as last season.
The City manager made a point that Haaland has a size that makes finding the rhythm in the training work a little more difficult, especially as the team was on a long and demanding Asia tour this summer. But he is clear that things will get better.
– But he is always there. He has scored a lot of goals in the past, he is doing it now, and will do it in the future, is Guardiola’s clear message.
He emphasizes that Haaland was in the same form when he returned to training this summer as he was a year ago.
But for Guardiola, it’s all about giving things time and not getting injured, he says, before he was also asked if he was surprised by the missed opportunities.
– It’s football. One day we may create fewer chances, but score three out of three. Phil had the quality to score, of course Erling too (against West Ham and Røde Stjerne). But we can’t go crazy if it’s 1-1. Finally, we know that we can get a flow on it.
GOOD TONE: Between Erling Braut Haaland and manager Pep Guardiola at a training session earlier this week. Photo: Martin Rickett / Pa Photos / NTB
Although Haaland missed and missed against Røde Stjerne last Tuesday, he nevertheless delivered a brilliant assist to line-mate Julian Alvarez.
Guardiola was finally asked if the Norwegian had managed the same last year.
– Last year he had many assists. Erling is not afraid to shoot. He finishes if he has the chance. But then (on Tuesday) they made a perfect choice. He is not selfish.
– When he is through and sees the goalkeeper, he first thinks of shooting himself, but he has the ability to understand that he can play for someone else at the last minute, boasts the City manager.
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Published: 22.09.23 at 11:30 p.m
Updated: 22.09.23 at 23:52
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2023-09-22 21:30:03
#Ironic #Guardiola #Haalands #question #couldnt #sleep #night
