Pep Guardiola says 'funny guy' Haaland is ready to be unleashed
Man City boss Pep Guardiola hails ‘funny guy’ Erling Haaland and reveals the £53m forward IS ready to face Liverpool in the Community Shield… as he tips the Norwegian to form a lethal partnership with Julian Alvarez
- Pep Guardiola has hailed the funny personality of new signing Erling Haaland
- Manchester City says the Norwegian is ready to unleashed against Liverpool
- Tips Haaland to form a lethal new-look partnership with Julian Alvarez for City P
Pep Guardiola has described new signing Erling Haaland as a ‘funny guy’ but it will no laughing matter when the Norwegian is unleashed on Liverpool in today’s Community Shield.
The 22-year-old striker made the £53million move to Manchester City this summer and is an instant hit with his new team-mates, becoming the joker in the pack among City’s all-star squad.
The Spanish boss has hailed the striking sensation’s arrival and is pleased he has settled in so well at the club.
‘The first impression of him is really good, a funny guy.’ Guardiola said.
Manchester City ‘funny guy’ is raring to go ahead of this weekend’s Community Shield clash
City boss Pep Guardiola is happy with the way his new summer signing has settled at the club
‘He’s settled really well with the team. That is important. Apparently people think it’s not one of the most important things but it is.
‘The good vibes in the locker room is more important than any advice.
‘We try to help him settle well with the family, house and try to get to know each other in training. Then the quality will do the rest.”
Manchester City play Liverpool in Saturday’s Community Shield and the Spanish boss has no concerns in unleashing he’s new shiny forward on his rivals.
‘He is ready to play. He feels good.’ the 51-year-old said.
Haaland has already made a good impression with his new Manchester City team-mates
The Norwegian opened his City account during the 1-0 pre-season win over Bayern Munich
‘When I spoke with him over the last couple of days, he feels a few little niggles but he can train and move.
‘At the end of August, he will be better than now. Now we have one game a week, with more training.
‘[Haaland and Julian Alvarez] have the special sense, smell, quality to score a goal.
‘If we play good football, create a lot of chances, put the ball close to the box…
“If we do that, we know Erling and Julian have this incredible talent to score goals. But they will not do it alone. We have to help them.’
Julian Alvarez has also arrived at Manchester City this summer after signing from River Plate
Julian Alvaraz is City’s other attacking arrival at the club this summer, having signed from River Plate in January.
The Chilean is somewhat of an unknown quantity in Europe, but Guardiola believes he can a big impact at the club, and form a lethal partnership with Erling Haaland.
‘If we play with tighter wings, I see [Alvarez] as complementary to Haaland, ‘the manager explained to ESPN when asked if the pair would share the pitch.
‘If we play with more open flanks, not so much. Julian has already adapted. A good player can adapt in the space of two afternoons.
“If you’ve got it, you’ve got it in Argentina and in England.’
Pep Guardiola believes that both Haaland and Alvarez can play together in City’s attack
The 22-year-old has spent his entire career under Marcelo Gallardo at River, but Guardiola isn’t worried about him adapting to the Premier League and believes Alvarez is raring to go.
‘We were not wrong about Julian. He is a team player,’ he continued.
‘He can score, he knows where the goal is. He is an extraordinary signing. We are going to make the most of Gallardo’s work and we hope to add some things to his game. We want him to feel good, he has already adapted.
‘Julian has come from a big team, with the obligation to win and keep winning. That is what River is about, just like Boca. That is drummed into a player’s head. We also bought that mentality.’
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