PEP GUARDIOLA has called Erling Haaland a ‘b******’ for being ‘always perfect’.
The Borussia Dortmund striker, 20, set up Marco Reus for his side’s equaliser during Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg.
And after the game, Guardiola called Haaland – a summer transfer target for Manchester City – a ‘b******’ simply for being too hot to handle.
When asked if he was taken aback by Dortmund’s midfield press, Guardiola told DAZN: “No, not surprised.
“I faced them when I was at Bayern Munich and they played five at the back.
“The rest of them play that system and the quality of [Mahmoud] Dahoud, [Jude] Bellingham and, of course, the pace of the people up front – the quality is there. We know it was.
“But when you want to press they play long balls.
“They play long balls to Haaland – Haaland is a b******.
“His link-up [play] is always perfect and they have the pace so we knew it was not easy to control them.”
Man City ultimately ran out 2-1 winners but were indebted to Phil Foden for his 90th minute winner.
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Just seven minutes earlier, Haaland had set up Reus to snatch a potentially crucial equaliser.
Incredibly, Haaland has now either scored or assisted on ALL six of Dortmund’s knockout stage goals in this season’s Champions League.
City are hotly-linked with a summer swoop for Haaland – who could cost upwards of £150million – to replace Sergio Aguero, who will leave on a free transfer in June.
Guardiola has distanced himself from the rumours, but Haaland set tongues wagging in the blue half of Manchester earlier this week.
The striker, whose dad Alf-Inge played for City, was overheard calling the Etihad Stadium ‘beautiful’ after seeing it for the first time on Monday.
Haaland was then spotted grinning ear-to-ear as he chatted with City ace Foden – with fans hopeful they were discussing a summer transfer.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
