Erling Haaland Has 'Mertality Messi' In Goalprinting Affairs

Manchester City forward Erling Haaland. (Photo: Twitter/@ManCity)

JAKARTA Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said Erling Haaland has a mentality like Argentine superstar Lionel Messi in terms of scoring goals.

This season Haaland has scored 50 goals in all competitions. He last scored one penalty as City narrowly won 2-1 over hosts Fulham in the Premier League England at Craven Cottage on Sunday, April 30.

Guardiola then got a question about Haaland's mentality comparison with Messi in terms of scoring goals. The Spaniard who had coached Messi also said that the mental affairs of the two players were almost at the same level.

"In terms of goals and mentality, yes. However, Messi has done it every season in the last 10-15 seasons. Erling since he started at Salzburg has reached the same level in terms of goals. Almost every game, he scores goals," Guardiola said..

An additional goal against Fulham made Haaland have scored 34 goals in the English Premier League this season. That figure also equaled the record for the competition scored by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer.

Meanwhile, Messi scored 50 goals or more for the club six times in the nine seasons between 2010-2019. Guardiola was still a coach at Barcelona when Messi scored 73 goals in the 2011-2012 season.

Despite acknowledging Haaland's ability, Guardiola is still very careful to compare it to Lionel Messi, who has seven Ballon d'Or and World Cup winners.

"But Messi is the most complete player I've ever seen in terms of vision, dribel, passing, competitiveness, in many ways difficult. Hopefully Erling can be that close (to) Leo. That would be good for us and him," said Guardiola.

City are currently filling second place in the Premier League standings with a collection of 76 points. They are two points adrift of Arsenal in the top position who have played two more games.