Champions League: Erling Haaland nets 2 in Man City rout, Guardiola denies release clause
Champions League: Erling Haaland nets 2 in Man City rout, Guardiola denies release clause. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola had to dispel rumors that Norway striker Erling Haaland was already plotting a departure after Haaland scored twice in the Champions League.
Guardiola denied Spanish media allegations that the striker. He scored twice in the first half of Wednesday’s 5-0 triumph over Copenhagen and had a release clause in his Man City contract that would allow him to join Real Madrid in 2024. The striker now has 19 goals in 12 games this season.
Statement
It’s not true,” Guardiola firmly stated. He is not subject to a buyout from Real Madrid or any other club. All I can say is that it’s not true. I get the impression he is very content in this setting.
Last year, Real was one of many top European teams interested in Haaland, but City ultimately outbid them all to sign him away from Borussia Dortmund for $63 million.
His move to the Etihad has sparked widespread speculation regarding a release clause that could pave the way for a return to the Bernabeu in the future.
“Who knows what the future holds,” Guardiola continued. Most importantly, “he is happy, settled nicely, and incredibly beloved by everyone.”
Haaland scored twice in as many minutes as a result of Guardiola’s decision to play him even though City was well favored to win.
Only the heroics of Copenhagen goalkeeper Kamil Grabara and his manager’s halftime substitution prevented him from scoring a hat trick for the second game in a row.
It was a merciful, yet restrained, gesture.
The Catalan coach indicates that he enjoys Haaland’s tour de force as much as the rest of us.
The look on the 22-year-face old’s when he touched in his second goal was priceless.
It appeared as though he realized this situation’s nearly unjust as he turned to the throng and rubbed his hands together with delight.
Haaland is excessive in size, power, speed, and sterility.
Declarations
“It’s getting a touch crazy now,” tweeted ex-England striker Gary Lineker. The ability to make scoring goals look ridiculously simple.
In this most recent instance of mismatch, Haaland was able to evade Copenhagen’s sloppy defenders. As only Bournemouth have managed to hold him at bay so far this season, they are in excellent company.
“I can’t believe it. To quote City midfielder Jack Grealish: “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. After the first two goals, I could only giggle. He never leaves your side.
As I turned to head back, the keeper said. “He’s not human!” he exclaimed. I reacted with a “You’re telling me?” With any luck, he’ll be able to keep this up and lead us to victory.
The answer to that question is a mystery for Haaland. Is he the one who will lead City to its first Champions League title?
Since his second European Cup victory with Barcelona in 2011, Guardiola has coached two of the most talented teams in the world at Bayern Munich and City. Still, he has yet to win the tournament without Lionel Messi.
The 2021 Chelsea final was the closest he’s come.
Facts
However, he has acquired probably the most dangerous offensive threat in all of football in Haaland. Even though he doesn’t have Messi’s exceptional technical skills, he’s proven to be an appealing match-winner.
After scoring three times in a 6-3 victory over Manchester United on Sunday, he appeared to be on pace for his fourth hat trick when his team faced Copenhagen.
Instead, Guardiola benched him, and City routed the defending Danish champions.
Riyad Mahrez scored from the penalty spot in the second half after Marko Stamenic took down Aymeric Laporte. This occurred ten minutes into the second half.
The city could have scored even more goals—Jack Grealish came near on multiple ends of the field on both ends—but in the 76th minute, Julian Alvarez scored five times by finishing Mahrez’s pass.
After some excellent buildup play by Joao Cancello, Haaland could blast a first-time shot past Grabara and into the net after only seven minutes.
In the 32nd minute, he doubled the lead by tapping the ball into an empty net after Grabara had blocked an attempt from Sergio Gomez.
City made it 3-0 with six minutes left in the first half, and it appeared like Haaland had scored his hat trick, but Copenhagen defender David Khocholava deflected an effort from Gomez past the goal line.
Copenhagen’s coach, Jacob Neestrup, freely admitted that his club could not stop a player of Haaland’s caliber.
Remarks
We indeed practiced, but he’s a world-class striker, he remarked. I witnessed both of his goals, the second of which was the result of a shooting, and I was particularly impressed by the ease with which he collected the resulting rebound.
“He’s a first-rate player.”
As a result of the victory, City maintained its perfect record in Group G and is now three points ahead of Borussia Dortmund, who defeated Sevilla by a score of 4-1. If they win next week when visiting Copenhagen, they will advance to the 16-team knockout stage.