‘This is the secret’ – Erling Haaland’s pre-match meal is key to his success, jokes Pep Guardiola

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has joked he wants Erling Haaland’s father to cook lasagne for his entire squad if that is the secret of his son’s success.

Haaland junior has taken the Premier League by storm, scoring 19 goals in just 12 appearances – including three hat-tricks – since his summer move from Borussia Dortmund.

The Norwegian joked this week that his father Alf-Inge must have put “something special” in the pre-match lasagne he made for him.

Now Guardiola has joined the fun and brought Alf-Inge, who played for City from 2000 to 2003, back into the club’s kitchen.

The city manager said: “We can make an offer for Erling’s father to cook for us. If this is the secret of Erling’s goals, I will convince (Chairman) Khaldoon (Al Mubarak) to bring him here!

“But I don’t think there’s just one secret.”

Guardiola has been impressed with how Haaland, 22, has handled both the hype that has accompanied his move to City and all the headlines and attention he has garnered afterwards.

Alf-Inge has undoubtedly played an important role in that regard, but Guardiola thinks Haaland himself deserves a lot of credit.

“He’s comfortable with the pressure on his shoulders and the expectations, he’s such a normal person,” said Guardiola, whose side host Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday. “I think he can handle it.

“I’m pretty sure it was good advice, from father to son. All fathers want the best for their sons, but in the end it’s Erling’s life and experiences. He has to make his own decisions.

“What impresses me the most is how kind he is, and that helps us live our lives much, much better.”