Erling Haaland’s current form will create problems for him in future because he will be expected to score hat-tricks in every game, that’s according to his manager Pep Guardiola.
Haaland spearheaded Man City’s hammering of Burnley in the FA Cup quarterfinals at the Etihad Stadium with his hat-trick as the Citizens progressed to the semifinals unscratched with a 6-0 win.
It was Haaland’s sixth hat-trick for Man City this season, and it made it eight goals (in five days) for the Norwegian who netted five against Leipzig in the return leg of the last 16 tie in the Champions League.
That hat-trick took Haaland’s tally to 42 goals this season, and Guardiola says the 22-year-old has set very high standards that people will expect him to deliver such week in week out.
“This guy will have a problem in the future, people expect every game he scores three or four goals and this isn’t going to happen,” Guardiola said.
“People have to say a little bit, I know he doesn’t care, he’s so positive in his life, he’s optimistic, he never complains, always looks at himself, as much as we play good he’s going to score.
“The target numbers I don’t know. We play like this, Erling will score goals.”
City remain on course to a win a treble this season. The side is through to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, are into the semifinals of the FA Cup, and sit second in the Premier League table. They are cruising currently, and Guardiola feels his team has found the right form at the right time.
“We’re in a good moment, definitely. After Leipzig, Palace we always suffer, we score a lot of goals, we concede few, few chances, we defend well, a threat in the set pieces like never before.
“I never had this feeling that we can score every corner, free kick we have. I think Arsenal will drop few points, we have to win almost every game. It’s an honour to play Bayern and the semifinal in Wembley again. We are alive in three competitions.
“I had the feeling that the players know we cannot lose or it’s over, that brings out our best, that is the reality.”
