Pep Guardiola has lauded Erling Haaland for showing self-control despite his rough treatment from Premier League defenders doing whatever they can to stop the Manchester City striker.
One of the few times Haaland’s discipline has lapsed was in the reverse fixture against Sunday’s opponents, Arsenal, earlier this season, when he was involved in a match-long physical battle with the centre-backs Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba. When John Stones scored a 97th-minute equaliser for City, Haaland threw the ball at the back of the Brazilian’s head while celebrating. That sparked a heated confrontation before the striker told the Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, to “stay humble” after the final whistle.
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“The game was emotional for Erling and it’s not easy when you have 90 minutes and you know Gabriel and the central defenders push him and hug him and hug him and kiss him, and these kinds of things,” Guardiola said. “He had to react. Arsenal are a physical team – in a good way in many aspects – and at the end what happened through the emotions happened. So it’s done.”
Haaland has an impressive disciplinary record, collecting only two bookings in 32 appearances for City this season. “I’m surprised how he can control his emotions because with every action he’s pulled and he’s pulled and the referee is always ‘play on’,” Guardiola said. “How many times does it happen? And always he never complains, he controls himself so talking of a reaction on one day is not real. It’s not about what Erling does [did] for one day. He behaves incredibly well.
“He stands up, he knows it’s going to happen, the Premier League is that way. You have to stand up and continue, continue, continue and defend your position. It’s always what he has done. So for one day am I going to adjudicate on what he’s done? Come on, I don’t buy it.”
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City have made three signings in January but Guardiola doubts they will be able to find someone to fill Rodri’s void before the transfer window closes on Monday night. The Spanish midfielder suffered a cruciate ligament injury against Arsenal in September and City have suffered without him.
Reports in Spain suggested Guardiola had spoken to Sergio Busquets about moving to England from Inter Miami, an idea the City head coach refutes. “He is so happy in Miami,” Guardiola said. “The weather there is so delightful. I spoke to Sergio, not for that issue.”
