Pep Guardiola has leapt to the defence of Erling Haaland following Manchester City’s narrow 1-0 victory over Southampton.
Haaland broke his Premier League goal drought with a fifth-minute strike against Southampton, securing City’s win. However, he missed several gilt-edged opportunities to extend City’s advantage, most notably in the 52nd minute.
Guardiola remains unfazed by Haaland’s form, saying: “It’s not easy for him because every cross is a penalty for Erling – the way they pull him. We create more, but we couldn’t score the second. Erling is a guarantee for us.”
Haaland’s goal against Southampton marked a significant milestone, matching Sergio Aguero’s 2017 record of scoring in seven successive starts against newly promoted teams. His Premier League tally now stands at 74, surpassing Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus despite playing 143 fewer games.
Haaland will feature in Manchester City’s Carabao Cup round of 16 clash against Tottenham on Wednesday and their Premier League match against Bournemouth next Saturday.
Image Credit: AFP
