How Erling Haaland could put Pep Guardiola to shame in Champions League clash with Inter as Man City coach explains key difference for Norwegian after ferocious start to season

Haaland has scored nine goals in his opening four games of the Premier League season, only narrowly missing out on netting three consecutive hat-tricks when he struck twice against Brentford on Saturday following trebles against Ipswich Town and West Ham United

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Haaland has scored 99 goals for City in 103 games and if he finds the net against Inter in the Champions League on Wednesday he will beat Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of scoring 100 times for Real Madrid after 105 games.

  • WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

    Guardiola told a press conference: “I played 11 years as a professional, as a football player, I scored 11 goals This guy, in four games, scored nine. So in one more game he can equal me. So you can imagine that I’m surprised.”

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    On Saturday Haaland broke Wayne Rooney’s record for the most goals after four games at the start of a Premier League season. Guardiola believes the striker is in such terrifying form because he was able to enjoy his longest ever summer break this year as Norway did not qualify for the European Championship. “The difference this season is that after niggles, and tiredness in his body, this season he feels better,” the coach added. “So far he feels clean, good here [in his head].”

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      WHAT NEXT FOR HAALAND?

      Haaland will be extra determined to score against Inter as he failed to find the net in the 2023 Champions League final against the Italians. The Norwegian has 41 goals in 39 games in Europe’s top competition, putting him on course to eventually usurp Ronaldo as the leading scorer in Champions League history. After Wednesday, City turn their attentions to their crunch Premier League clash with Arsenal.