Pep Guardiola refuted Jamie Carragher’s claims that Erling Haaland “joined the wrong club” by choosing Manchester City over the summer.
The former Liverpool and England defender said after Manchester City’s defeat against Tottenham that Haaland would have been better suited to another of Europe’s top sides.
He also maintained City had become “a lesser team” with him playing and that they were not making the best of his talents. Guardiola countered that the striker has settled in perfectly at City scoring 32 goals in all competitions.
“Yes, absolutely. Yes, absolutely. (What did he mean?) I understand it. What can I say?! I’m open to all opinions. He will have his arguments,” replied Guardiola.
“What’s important is I have the feeling that he feels so happy here. His commitment is, not because he’s already scored 26 goals, he’s incredibly well-respected.
“It was a surprise for all of us, a real, real surprise. We didn’t know him, we know his stats, his numbers, his laughs when he plays in Dortmund, but all of us were really, really surprised, how he is as a boy. Because he is a boy. And that makes us so proud of him, we want to help him.
“But what I said, all opinions are more than welcome, and if Jamie Carragher said that, he will have his reasons.
“We are delighted to have him, and we are delighted he chose us, because at the end he had all the world in his hands, to choose where I’m going to play, to stay in Dortmund, or go to Madrid or Barcelona, or another team in England, and he chose us. That’s why we are more than happy.”
Haaland has already streaked clear in the race for the Golden Boot having moved nine clear of Harry Kane on 17 when scoring against Arsenal last Wednesday. He has not only Alan Shearer and Andy Cole’s jointly held record of 34 goals in a Premier League season in his sights but a long-standing City record as well.
Francis Lee’s 35 goals in 47 appearances in 1971-72 currently stands as the most goals per season but with Haaland on 32 with the season barely past halfway he looks sure to leave that one behind as well.
Guardiola also says Ilkay Gundogan can leave with his blessing and heartfelt thanks if he chooses to bring the curtain down on his City career in the summer. The Germany international, 32, is out of contract at the end of the season.
