PEP GUARDIOLA hailed “incredible” Erling Haaland as he marked his European debut for Manchester City with two goals to set a new Champions League record.
The £51 million Norwegian took his tally for his new club to 12 in just eight matches by grabbing a goal in each half in the 4-0 win at Sevilla – despite having just 19 touches of the ball all game.
Phil Foden and Ruben Dias were also on target as City made a perfect start to their 12th straight year in the Champions League.
Haaland has now scored on his Champions League debuts for RB Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund, and Man City.
And afterwards he tweeted: “The #UCL is back and I love it!”
Haaland is the first player EVER to score 25 goals in his first 20 Champions League appearances
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Guardiola said: “I love this routine and it's been a routine in every single press conference after games talking about him and his goals.
“Hopefully he can continue this routine. The numbers speak for themselves. All his career it has been quite similar.
“It's not just the two goals, it's always he's there, always he's there. It's always the feeling that he could score more goals.
“He has an incredible sense of goal. We have incredible numbers in terms of goals and need to continue.”
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Skipper for the night Kevin de Bruyne created the first goal for Haaland and believes there is much more to come from his new team-mate.
“He said: “For the moment, he is scoring the goals so it helps us win the games.
“I think the way he's adapted to us is really good but I think outside the goalscoring there’s still another part in the game and I think that part is more tough to adapt to.
HAALAND’S INCREDIBLE RECORD
THE HOTSHOT has fired 12 goals in just eight Man City matches.
Here is his career total to date:
MOLDE: 50 apps – 20 goals
SALZBURG: 27 apps – 29 goals
DORTMUND: 89 apps – 86 goals
MAN CITY: 8 apps – 12 goals
NORWAY: 21 caps – 20 goals
OVERALL: 195 apps – 167 goals
“But it makes it more exciting! If he can adjust to the way we play, then the levels will go up.”
Guardiola also reserved special praise for Foden who kick-started his campaign by scoring a classy second goal.
He said: “Phil has an incredible thing – lately he hasn’t been playing too good but always he does a job for the team – he runs and works for the team.
“He is dynamic and has a good work ethic every single game – even if he plays bad. That’s why he deserves to play.”
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