Manchester City manager said Erling Haaland scoring more than five goals in the 7-0 trashing of RB Leipzig would have been boring for his career.
The 22-year-old Norwegian hit five past the German Bundesliga outfit as they progressed 8-1 on aggregate into the quarter-finals.
Haaland equalled the record of five goals scored by Lionel Messi for Barcelona against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012 and Luiz Adriano for Shakhtar Donetsk against BATE Borisov in 2014.
Haaland was substituted after 63 minutes on Tuesday night and some questioned Guardiola’s decision to do that as the former Borussia Dortmund forward could have surpassed Messi if he continued playing.
The Catalan tactician, however, admitted he did not remember Messi scored five goals in a Champions League game.
“If he [Haaland] achieved these milestones, the records at 22-23 years old, it will be boring his life. So now have a target to do it in the future, here and everywhere. So that’s why I make a substitution,” Guardiola said in a post-match press conference.
“I didn’t know was with Messi, with Leo happening against Leverkusen (also scored five goals in a Champions League game). They told me in the flash interview. But I make a substitution, because normally when the game is over, I want to… let them (all play), as much play as possible.”
Gimme five! ✋???????? #mancity #UCL pic.twitter.com/REPP5m8lkp
— Erling Haaland (@ErlingHaaland) March 14, 2023
Guardiola went on to praise Haaland for his competitiveness and mentality, stressing that scoring five goals is not easy as thought.
“Five goals. You know, what can I say? So the numbers of this season… the problem with this guy (Erling Haaland) is every time we don’t score two or three goals, (he) will be criticised for the next of his career and this is the reality,” Guardiola continued.
“But yeah, I said many times, he’s a joy of a guy, and his mood in the locker room, always happiness and… a gift to all of us. And he’s a huge competitor. The mentality is… he’s there and yeah, he scored five goals. So this is not easy.”
Guardiola will now turn his attention to the FA Cup this weekend where Man City take on Burnley, currently managed by former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany.
