Manager insists the only difference is the two legends have been performing for more than a decade
Pep Guardiola believes Erling Haaland’s goalscoring form has reached the same level that was shown by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Norwegian scored a brace to guide Manchester City to a 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Saturday, taking his tally to 17 in 13 games for the club this season.
He has scored 13 of City’s 20 league goals this term. No other teammate has netted more than once.
Guardiola said: “Erling was decisive – it’s a little like when you play with Messi or Cristiano, you know? The influence is so big.
“Has he reached that level? You see the numbers of that guy? Oh my God, yeah, of course he’s at their levels of the numbers from Cristiano and Messi.
“The difference of Cristiano and Messi, they have been doing it for 15 years. You see Messi still in MLS, he scores two or three goals every day. Cristiano in Saudi is the same.
“But he’s at that level and without him, it would be tough.”
