“It’s his job” – Pep Guardiola issues Roy Keane-esque verdict on Erling Haaland after Burnley brace | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola maintained that Erling Haaland is performing as is expected of him after another pair of goals scored by the Norwegian against Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

Haaland has been in red hot form since the start of the season and the 25-year-old registered his eighth and ninth goals in seven games this term in space of three minutes towards the end of City’s win over the Clarets.

The Norway international has found the net every time he has played for Manchester City this season aside from the Blues’ 2-0 defeat to Tottenham before the international break, underpinning his continued importance to Pep Guardiola as City navigate a period of transition following a busy transfer window.

It came to the relief of Fantasy Premier League managers across the globe when Haaland – who set up Matheus Nunes for Manchester City’s second goal on Saturday – struck home from Jeremy Doku’s fizzed cross in the box on 90 minutes.

With less than a minute before the full-time whistle, the Manchester City forward was on hand to capitalise on an injury-time mix-up in defence for the visitors to effortlessly grab his second and put the icing on the cake for the hosts.

City bid farewell to Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish (loan) this summer but Haaland has shown no signs of slowing down despite seeing his creator-in-chief and best friend leave the club in the last few months.

Speaking on the former Borussia Dortmund man’s heroics this season, Guardiola hailed Haaland for the responsibility he has assumed for Manchester City but maintained that this is what he expects from the Leeds-born star.

“It’s his job. He’s an incredibly important figure for us,” said Guardiola on Haaland, who made his name as the highest scoring Norwegian in Premier League history after his brace against Burnley.

“Always he (Haaland) has chances. Always we have the feeling that always he can score. Really pleased again for the performance of the team.

“Since the (Manchester) United game, the team showed another way, another body language, even not playing good against Arsenal how they defended, helped each other. It’s the key for everything, and after improve the details.”

Haaland returned to the starting XI on Saturday to brush off concerns over his fitness, having been taken off against Arsenal last weekend following complaints of backpain after starting thrice in a week against Manchester United, Napoli and the Gunners.

Guardiola will know that any outside chances Manchester City possess of winning the Premier League and UEFA Champions League this season will hinge significantly on Haaland maintaining the momentum he has gathered early doors this term.