Pep Guardiola he joked Erling Haland one goal missing from a double hat-trick Manchester City beaten RB Leipzig 7-0 to make sure he still has at least one target to follow.
The Norwegian striker broke records by scoring 5 goals in 35 minutes, becoming the youngest player to score 30 goals. Champions League and after Lionel Messi and Luiz Adriano who did it fastest, scoring five goals in a single Champions League match.
Haaland scored a hat-trick in the middle of the first half, two minutes later, two minutes apart, it was a competitive penalty in the first half, and then added two more lines with İlkay Gündoğan and Kevin De in the 53rd and 57th minutes. Bruyne takes the others when City win 8-1 on aggregate.
However, Haaland was replaced by Julian Alvarez, who later said: “When I left, I told him (Guardiola) I really wanted to score a double hat-trick – but what can I do!”
When asked why he made the switch, Guardiola said: “If he has achieved this milestone at 22, 23, his life will be boring. He has a goal now, so I’m making the substitution.
“I didn’t know about Messi against (Bayer) Leverkusen but normally I would like to let all the players play as much as possible when the game is over.”
Goals have been no problem since Haaland arrived in Manchester – his performance on Tuesday saw him hit 39 in the season and beat Tommy Johnson’s club record for a single season – but the debate over his overall contribution continued regardless as each contact count was analysed. .
“He scored five goals today and I think 30-35 touchdowns and that’s what we’re looking for,” said Guardiola. “When you’re in the game, you’re more sensitive when it’s time to score. It’s hard to score when you don’t touch the ball for 40 minutes.
“Sometimes it’s his fault. Sometimes he doesn’t move – against Crystal Palace I told him ‘You didn’t play well today’ – but other times it’s our fault. We couldn’t find him in the second half away from Leipzig. But we’re working to speed up the process.”
City are now in a quarter-final draw for the sixth consecutive season, a record no other club can match, and Guardiola’s cheerful mood is on full display as one question about this success is the unexpected turn of Julia Roberts over Manchester United. brought a lament.
“I’m unsuccessful in the Champions League,” said Guardiola. “If I win the Champions League three times in a row, I will fail.
“I have three idols in my life. Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Julia Roberts. These are my three idols.
Julia Roberts came to Manchester years ago – not in the ’90s when Sir Alex (Ferguson) won titles, titles and titles. That came when we were better than United in four or five years, right?
“And he went to visit Man United. He didn’t come to see us. So even if I won the Champions League, it’s not comparable to the fact that Julia Roberts didn’t come to Manchester to see us.
“Even if I win the Champions League, it can’t compare to the disappointment I’ve had.”