“It’s Impossible”: Pep Guardiola Says No Defender in the World Can Genuinely Stop Erling Haaland at One Thing
In a scintillating display of athleticism and goal-scoring prowess, Erling Haaland once again proved why he is one of the most feared strikers in world football.
Manchester City‘s 3-1 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium showcased Haaland’s unrelenting ability to turn matches on their heads, even when the odds appear against him.
Haaland’s performance was nothing short of remarkable. Despite an early miss from close range that left fans momentarily stunned, the Norwegian sensation quickly redeemed himself. In the 10th minute, after a brilliant interception by Bernardo Silva from Lucas Paqueta, Haaland was sent through on goal. The £51 million forward made no mistake, slotting the ball past a helpless Lucas Fabianski to give City an early lead.
West Ham, however, was not willing to roll over. A cross from Paqueta took a wicked deflection off Ruben Dias, equalizing the match and injecting new life into the home crowd.
But their joy was fleeting. Just before the break, Haaland unleashed a thunderous strike from the edge of the box. The ball rattled the crossbar before finding the back of the net, restoring Manchester City’s advantage.
The second half saw West Ham pressing for another equalizer, but Haaland had other ideas. In a moment that left the London Stadium in awe, Matheus Nunes threaded a perfect pass through West Ham’s defense.
Haaland, timing his run to perfection, found himself one-on-one with Fabianski. Calmly and confidently, he lifted the ball over the goalkeeper, sealing the win for City.
The match marked Haaland’s seventh goal in just three games this season, further solidifying his position as the Premier League’s top marksman. His goal-scoring exploits have left even his closest competitors, such as Chelsea’s Noni Madueke, trailing far behind.
Guardiola: ‘Haaland’s Speed and Power Make Him Unstoppable in Open Space’
After the match, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola heaped praise on his star striker, emphasizing the importance of creating chances for Haaland.
“He needs the team and what we need to do is build better and better to give more balls in this final third,” Guardiola said, as reported by HaytersTV. He highlighted how players like Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne are crucial in setting up Haaland for success.
Guardiola didn’t stop there, making a bold claim about Haaland’s unparalleled ability when given space to exploit. “With space behind, he’s unstoppable,” Guardiola stated. “There’s no central defender, not even with a gun, it’s impossible, he’s so fast, so powerful.”
The praise is well-deserved. In transition, Haaland’s combination of speed, power, and lethal finishing makes him virtually untouchable.
Whether it’s in the Premier League or on the international stage, defenders around the world are quickly realizing that when Haaland has space to run into, stopping him is a near-impossible task.
“It’s Impossible”: Pep Guardiola Says No Defender in the World Can Genuinely Stop Erling Haaland at One Thing