Erling Haaland scores twice for Man City in the Champions League, but Guardiola refuses to waive the release clause
In just seven minutes, Haaland scored, beating Grabara with a first-time shot following some outstanding work from Joao Cancello.
Following Erling Haaland’s most recent two-goal performance in the Champions League, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola had to put an end to rumours that the Norwegian striker was already considering leaving the organisation.
In Wednesday’s 5-0 victory over Copenhagen, the striker increased his season total to 19 goals in 12 games. According to rumours coming out of Spain, the striker’s contract with Manchester City has a release clause that would allow him to sign for Real Madrid in 2024.
It’s not true, according to Guardiola. He has no release clause for Real Madrid or any other team, according to the statement. What I can say is that that is not true. He seems to be really content here, in my opinion.
Haaland was being pursued by a number of top European teams last season, including Real, but City ultimately prevailed in the bidding, purchasing him from Borussia Dortmund for $63 million.
Nevertheless, a future transfer to the Bernabeu is viewed as a possibility, and since his transfer to the Etihad, much has been made of a release clause.
In the end, who can predict what will happen in the future, said Guardiola. The most essential thing is that he is content, that he has everything under control, and that everyone adores him greatly.
Guardiola resisted the urge to rest the Norway international in a match that City was predicted to easily win, and Haaland promptly obliged by scoring twice in as many minutes. The gymnastics of Copenhagen goalkeeper Kamil Grabara and his manager’s decision to remove him at halftime were the only things standing in the way of him scoring a hat trick for the second time in a row.
It was a show of restraint as well as mercy. Because the Catalan coach seems to be currently taking the most pleasure possible from Haaland’s masterpiece. As the 22-year-old tapped in his second goal, his expression was priceless. He seemed to understand how unjust this is as he turned to face the crowd and gleefully rubbed his palms together.
Haaland is too huge, too powerful, too quick, and too cold-blooded. Former England forward Gary Lineker tweeted, “It’s getting a touch crazy now.” Making scoring goals appear incredibly simple. As Copenhagen’s helpless defenders failed to follow Haaland’s movement, this was the latestmismatch. Given that Bournemouth is the only team that has managed to contain him this year, they are in good company. It’s truly unbelievable. City midfielder Jack Grealish said of.
That is the uncertainty that looms over Haaland. Can he ultimately guide City to its first Champions League victory? Every day of my life, “Jack Grealish, a midfielder for City, described Haaland. “Throughout the first and second goals, I was laughing. He’s constantly nearby.incredibly great teams at Bayern Munich and City since he won the championship for the second time with Barcelona in 2011, Guardiola has yet to win Europe without Lionel Messi. The closest he has come is when he lost to Chelsea in the 2021 championship game.
But he has possibly found the most dreadful attacking threat in all of football in Haaland. And even though he might not have Messi’s exceptional technical skills, he is proven to be an unstoppable match-winner to rival the Argentina legend.
He seems on track to score his fourth hat trick of the year against Copenhagen after making three against Manchester United in a 6-3 victory on Sunday. Guardiola chose to withdraw him, and City went on to annihilate the Danish champion without him. After Marko Stamenic took down Aymeric Laporte 10 minutes into the second half, Riyad Mahrez scored from the penalty spot. With Jack Grealish consistently coming close each side of halftime, City could have and should have added several more goals, but Julian Alvarez made it 5-0