Pep Guardiola wants Erling Haaland to keep playing with the passion he showed against Everton, despite the Manchester City striker collecting a booking during a fired-up display.
Haaland was involved in a physical battle with Toffees centre-back Ben Godfrey, with their first confrontation inside the first minute at the Etihad. Some of the challenges angered Haaland, who exuberantly celebrated the award of a free-kick, screamed at Godfrey when he scored and saw yellow for a lunge at Vitalii Mykolenko.
The Norwegian striker was walking a tightrope with some of his aggressive play and a few pundits believed he could have been sent-off for the challenge on Everton’s left-back.
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But Guardiola had no issue with Haaland’s aggression in the game, as long as he uses his head to stay cool, and the City boss wouldn’t mind a repeat when his main marksman comes up against Kalidou Koulibaly and Thiago Silva at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
“I like it, the extra limit. Not just him, everyone. His behaviours, you always have to use [points to his head],” said Guardiola.
“But play with this passion. That is necessary. I prefer that than to be flat. Strikers have to handle tough, tough central defenders. It’s necessary.
“Tomorrow he’ll have a battle with Koulibaly and Thiago Silva. Always it’s a big challenge and that’s why the Premier League is so special.”
Guardiola believes Haaland has plenty of improving still to do and that maturation might include understanding when he needs to stay calm in the heat of the moment.
“I’ve said many times, a lot of things can improve. As much as he scores goals, it’s OK but he still has a margin to improve many things. Of course, he’s young and he will be better in the future,” he said.
City can close the gap on Arsenal to five points if they beat Chelsea in the capital tonight, but Guardiola expects a tough game against Graham Potter’s side.
He’s also warned that his team will be powerless to halt the Gunners if they maintain current standards, which will see them collect more than 100 points this season.
“[It will be a] tough game, tough side, well managed, Stamford Bridge, what can you say, always difficult, looking forward to this week, the different competitions and the next three games,” said Guardiola.
“We have to reduce the gap by playing good and winning games, but they could do more than 100 points if they keep this average and we will not catch them, we have to be almost perfect and hope they drop, last night [against Newcastle] they were excellent.”
Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk
