“He played 2,000 more minutes than Ousmane Dembele” – Pep Guardiola criticizes Manchester City’s Erling Haaland

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“He played 2,000 more minutes than Ousmane Dembele” – Pep Guardiola criticizes Manchester City’s Erling Haaland

Guardiola describes Haaland’s season as “unbelievable” despite a sloppy second half.
Man City manager compares Haaland’s minutes with PSG’s Dembele; The Norwegian played another 2,000
The Catalan insists that City must put more players in the box to support Haaland and increase their threat

Pep Guardiola hailed Erling Haaland’s season as ‘amazing’ after the Norwegian found the net in Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Brentford on Saturday.

Haaland has scored 37 goals and provided eight assists in 50 outings in all competitions this season, net. Manchester Citythe second against Brentford continuing the run of form that has carried the Blues through the most difficult period of their campaign.

The 25-year-old has started every important game in City’s run and has done so despite struggling in terms of minutes played.

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Speaking at the press conference after the win over Brentford, Guardiola put Haaland’s season in context, acknowledging a difficult mid-season campaign while also making it clear how he admires the striker for maintaining his results regardless.

Guardiola: Erling remains Erling

Guardiola opened by talking about a period at the start of the season when Haaland appeared to be struggling to find sharpness after returning from international duty with Norway.

“It’s amazing! There was a time when he was tired when he came back from the qualifiers in Norway and he struggled, but for how many minutes,” said Guardiola.

“For example, I saw the minutes of (Ousmane) Dembele in the middle PSG compared to Erling – he has 2,000 more! It’s many minutes and you go on – and a minute Omar (Marmoush) was in Afcon, Erling is always Erling, a threat to his opponents, set-pieces, feeling for goals.

“What we have to do is bring more players closer to him when we get to the sides, there are more players because we will score more goals, if he is alone in the box it is difficult for him to score!”

The comparison with Dembele is surprising. Guardiola’s point isn’t just that Haaland has played more football, it’s that he’s played more than one of the best players in European football this season – and he’s done it while maintaining a level of output that most strikers can’t maintain for half that amount of minutes.

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What does Guardiola’s test mean for City’s run?

Guardiola’s observation that City need more bodies arriving in the box around Haaland is as much a smart note as a compliment, an acknowledgment that the striker’s threat is not enhanced by isolation but by support.

Saturday’s win over Brentford proved just that, with Marmoush adding a third after arriving late to meet a delightful ball from Haaland to cap off a stunning team move.

With FA Cup last against Chelsea Wembley and three The Premier League games against The Crystal Palace, Bournemouth Aston Villa yet to come, Haaland’s fitness and form will be central to how City’s season ends. On the evidence of Guardiola’s words on Saturday evening, there is no concern whatsoever.