Pep Guardiola believes that a Manchester City striker is playing at a level that places him in rare company | OneFootball

Erling Haaland scored a brace yesterday at the Etihad Stadium to help Manchester City pick up a 3-1 win over Bournemouth. The Norwegian international continued his strong form yesterday as he took full advantage of the space provided to him by Bournemouth’s high defensive line. Speaking after his team’s win yesterday, Pep Guardiola said that Haaland was playing at the level that saw Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominate European and world football. It is hard to disagree with Pep Guardiola’s assessment as Haaland continues to overwhelm Manchester City’s opponents.

Pep Guardiola had high praise for Erling Haaland after he fired Manchester City to a massive win.

Speaking after his team’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth, Pep Guardiola had special praise for Erling Haaland. The Manchester City manager believes that Haaland is playing at the level of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in their primes. Guardiola also explained that Haaland’s hunger to score goals makes him a nightmare to contend with for City’s opponents. Speaking on Erling Haaland and his strong form across the 25/26 season, Pep Guardiola said: “This is what it’s like if you play with Messi or Ronaldo, his influence is so big.”

“You see the numbers of that guy? Of course, he’s that level.”

“Messi and Ronaldo have done it for 15 years, but this is the level. The first goal, the way he shoots the ball, it’s like ‘I am going to score’.”

“He has that hunger. It’s top. I said how incredibly coachable and manageable he is.”

“I am tough sometimes with Haaland, but he is open-minded. He lives for the goals, and sometimes the pressure cannot sustain 90 minutes, but that’s normal.”

“Without him, it would be tough to be honest, but we are lucky that Omar is back, and we have fit players; it’s good.”

Erling Haaland has reached a level that puts him in rare company.

Following his brace against Bournemouth yesterday, Erling Haaland has scored 25 goals this season for both club and country. That is an utterly ridiculous statistic, considering it is only November 3rd. For Manchester City this season, Haaland has scored 17 goals in all competitions. He is in rare form, and his game seems to have gone up a level this season.

Haaland is a powerhouse up front for his team. His pace, power and finishing ability have made him almost impossible to stop if the service is there. Manchester City have arguably the world’s best striker in their squad. The only players who can be compared to Haaland who play currently in Europe are Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and Real Madrid frontman Kylian Mbappe. It isn’t a stretch to say that those two players don’t have the insatiable hunger of Haaland to score goals. It’s that hunger combined with Haaland’s talent that makes him such a formidable presence. Bournemouth discovered this yesterday at the Etihad.

Pep Guardiola’s assessment that Haaland is playing at the level that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo displayed during their prime feels accurate. That is the level that Haaland is playing at currently. Earlier this season, Troy Deeney said on TalkSport that Haaland isn’t on the level of Brazilian legend Ronaldo as a striker, and never will be. The fact that Haaland is being compared to a legend like Ronaldo, or Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo shows the level he is now playing at. If Haaland can sustain this hunger and level of play across the entire season, there is no telling what air he will occupy and how far he can take Manchester City this season.