Pep Guardiola compares Erling Haaland to 'dear friend' Zlatan Ibrahimović and Johan Cruyff

Erling Haaland has taken the Premier League by storm since joining the holder Manchester City in July this year. The 22-year-old Norwegian has lit up the European football like very few have been able to do. In just five Premier League games, the City player has scored nine goals and has been adjudged the Player of the Month for August.

Not just that but the Norwegian has also continued his sensational form in the Champions League having already scored three goals in this year’s campaign. All journalists and football fans have waxed lyrical about the striker ever since he joined the English club.

Here's Erling Haaland's acrobatic goal against Borussia Dortmund

What a goal, what a assist both from Cancello and Haaland pic.twitter.com/5lY3KQi21g

— Marcelo Ivan Allende Bravo (@maetsebane) September 15, 2022

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City’s head coach has also been a huge admirer of the number nine. In a recent interview, the former Barcelona coach has gone on and compared the youngster to the legendary Johan Cryuff and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Speaking to the press after Haaland’s gravity-defying goal against Borussia Dortmund in a Champions League group stage match, Guardiola said, “The moment Erling scored I thought it was quite, quite similar. I remember my dear friend Ibrahimovic, who has this ability to put the leg on the roof, and Erling is quite similar in that."

Guardiola further went on to add, “I think it is his nature, he is elastic, he is flexible and after has the ability to make contact and put the ball in the net. I think his mum and dad give him that flexibility."

Guardiola who played under the legendary footballer Johan Cryuff compared Haaland’s goal to that of his former boss and said, "Maybe the people who know me know the influence of Johan Cruyff in my life as a person, a mentor, a manager.”

"Years ago, he scored in Camp Nou an incredible goal versus Atletico Madrid. It was quite similar today with Haaland and the moment he scored it I thought, 'Johan Cruyff'. It was quite similar.”

Pep said Haaland's goal reminded him of Johan Cruyff's goal against Atletico Madrid pic.twitter.com/yaa0o48cTY

— ⚡️🇧🇼 (@Priceless_Silva) September 14, 2022

Pep also lauded Joao Cancelo’s assist saying, "It was a really good one and the assist from Joao was exceptional.”