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Rob Dawson, Correspondent
Pep Guardiola has admitted he was amazed by Erling Haaland’s incredible goalscoring record at Manchester City.
Haaland has scored 99 goals in just 103 appearances for Manchester City and could reach 100 for the club when they face Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Norwegian striker went on to play for Molde, RB Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund before joining the Etihad Stadium in 2022.
But Guardiola said he was amazed at the level he had achieved at City.
“A little bit, yes,” Guardiola said. “I know, I played 11 years as a professional and scored 11 goals (at Barcelona). This guy has scored nine goals in four games (this season). He can match me in one more game! That’s why he surprised me!”
Haaland scored 52 goals in 53 games in his first season at Manchester City and 38 goals in 45 games last season.
He has started the new season in superb form, scoring back-to-back hat-tricks against Wexwich Town and West Ham United, and Guardiola has warned the rest of Europe that the 24-year-old is fitter than ever.
“What’s different from last season is that he feels better, his pain and fatigue are better,” Guardiola said.
“He came from Dortmund with a lot of problems, he had a muscle problem in the first month and struggled a little bit. So far (this season) he feels ‘I’m clean, I’m fine here, there’s no problem’.
“I don’t expect him to score two or three goals every game. I know the quality is there so it’s not a problem, but the difference from last season is that he feels good. There’s no problem. When players feel that way, they can do their best.”
