2024-04-03 07:09:22
Manchester (Reuters)
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said that Erling Haaland is the best striker in the world and defended the Norwegian player’s performance following criticism from former Manchester United captain Roy Keane.
Haaland, who scored 36 goals in the English Premier League last season, did not make any significant impact in City’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal last Sunday, and Kane said that the 23-year-old’s performance in general was far below the level of the English Premier League.
Kane told Sky Sports following last Sunday’s match: “Haaland’s performance in general is very bad, and not just today. I think he has to work on improving that. He is currently performing like lower-level players in the English Premier League.”
Guardiola said that he did not agree with Kane’s statements regarding Haaland, the league’s top scorer with 18 goals, and told reporters: “Haaland is the best striker in the world, and he helped us win the treble last season. The reason for the scarcity of opportunities was not because of Erling… We played an exceptional match once morest Arsenal. “I watched the match once more. Maybe we missed more players in the final third. For the quality and different skills we have, Haaland is an exceptional player.”
City ranks third, trailing leaders Liverpool by three points, and faces Aston Villa later today.
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