Guardiola says Haaland has reached goat level
Pep Guardiola insisted Erling Haaland is at the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, after his brace in Manchester City's win over Bournemouth.
City's number nine is just the third player to ever score two or more goals in four successive Premier League home games, after Robbie Fowler in 1995-1996 and Luis Suarez in 2013 (five).
Haaland is also now just two goals away from a century in the English top flight, having only played 107 games in the competition.
The Norway international is well on track to smash the record for fewest games taken to score 100 Premier League goals, with current record holder Alan Shearer reaching that figure in 124 appearances.
Guardiola believes Haaland's numbers are comparable with two of football's all-time greats.
"We played really good, of course. Again, Erling was decisive," the Spaniard said. "It's a little like when you play with Messi or Cristiano, you know? The influence is so big.
"Has he reached that level? You see the numbers of that guy? Yes, of course he's at their levels of the numbers from Cristiano and Messi.
"The difference of Cristiano and Messi, they have been doing it for 15 years. You see Messi still in MLS, he scores two or three goals every day. Cristiano, in Saudi Arabia, it's the same.
"But [Haaland is] at that level and, without him, it would be tough."
