'People want Haaland to fail' - Guardiola claims

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has claimed that it is the wish of people to see Erling Haaland fail.

The Cityzens defeated Young Boys 3-1 in a UEFA Champions League group stage game on Wednesday, October 25 at the Wankdorf Stadium.

Swiss defender Manuel Akanji scored the opening goal for City and Meschak Elia equalised four minutes later.

A subsequent brace for Haaland gave the away side all the three points.

Haaland had failed to score in the first two matches of the Champions League this campaign.

Speaking in the post match conference, Guardiola said Haaland has the pressure from what happened last season.

“He has the pressure from what happened last season. Not just last season,” Guardiola said on mancity.com.

“He has to score seven goals every game and it is impossible. He is happy. He scored a lot of goals. People want him to fail after scoring 52 goals. Maybe in the right moment of the season he will be there even better than now. In the Champions League again he is there.

“We are really pleased he is a guy with hunger. He is so humble. He is an incredible professional. He is a great competitor. He is involved in the games and participates more in our process. U don’t want him to just be there in the box and score goals. If he is there in the box involved when we arrive in the box he will be more clever. I have no doubts and he has a desire to improve.”

This matchup was the first time City had ever faced Young Boys in the Champions League.

Haaland has netted twice and provided one assist in three games in the 2023/24 Champions League.

The 23-year-old has scored 37 Champions League goals in just 33 games in his career.

He has a total of nine goals and one assist in nine Premier League games this term.

City are first in Group G of the Champions League with nine points after matchday three.

They are currently second on the Premier League table with 21 points after nine matches.