Guardiola Unsurprised By Haaland's Fast Start In Premier League
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says Erling Haaland's hattrick against Crystal Palace on Saturday was 'nothing special'.
Haaland continued his impressed start to life in England as the champions came from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace 4-2.
After Bernardo Silva halved the deficit early in the second half, Haaland took centre stage with a treble to take his tally for the season to six goals already from four appearances.
Guardiola appeared not surprised by the Norwegian's predatory instincts in his post-match analysis.
"What he has done today he has done all his career. It's nothing special," Guardiola told Sky Sports.
He then added in his post-match press conference: "I would say thanks to me for my brilliant ideas, but I'd say Erling has done this since he was born.
"Always he 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.
"He came for that [scoring important goals], what he has done all his life, the numbers of this guy is beyond [comprehension].
"The most important thing 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 about Erling is we are still knowing each other, still need more time. I saw his body language at 2-0 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 he is there. As a striker, that is incredible, he didn't touch the ball but had a feeling the ball was there and was always involved.
"Football is here [the head]. The third goal, it's the same pass from [Ilkay] Gundogan at West Ham, we spoke to put the ball to his feet between the central defenders.
"It was quite similar to West Ham how he used his body. He didn't shoot, he put it soft where the keeper cannot save. Look at the numbers, strikers are numbers. You see how many games in his career; how many goals [he's scored] is astonishing."
