Manchester City manager showered Norwegian striker Erling Haaland with praises.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola fawned over the quality and intelligence of his top striker, Erling Haaland, revealing that he gives the Norwegian free reigns to do what he wants on the football pitch.
Haaland matched his output from his last outing as he scored a hat-trick in consecutive games to help Manchester City beat West Ham to soar to the top of the Premier League standings.
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Manchester City's Erling Haaland explained to reporters the reason behind his current scoring form.
Rampant Haaland destroyed West Ham
Haaland made an instant impact, scoring his first goal within ten minutes of kick-off. He expertly curled the ball into the far corner, giving Manchester City an early advantage.
West Ham responded vigorously, and their relentless pressure paid off when Jarrod Bowen's effort was inadvertently deflected into the net by Ruben Dias, levelling the score.
Haaland regained the lead for City before halftime, unleashing a powerful shot that left Alphonse Areola helpless. He sealed his hat-trick in the 83rd minute, courtesy of a precise pass from Matheus Nunes, and calmly slotted the ball past Lukasz Fabianski, who replaced injured Areola at half-time.
What Pep Guardiola said
"From the beginning he was unbelievable,’ Guardiola told reporters, per the BBC. The second goal, even the first. The third goal is something unique. With this mindset he has, everything he can do. The numbers with the shortage and the games he's played. He's loved for what he does on the pitch.
"You have to let him do what he wants. He scored three goals today but he didn't lose one ball. Today is one of the games where he has played the best in all situations. When you see the games and see what we want to do, he understands because he is a smart guy. He wants to score goals."