Pep challenges Haaland to stay ‘relaxed’ for City success

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Pep Guardiola has advised Erling Haaland “to relax” after questioning the Manchester City striker’s physique language in the course of the win over Everton.

Haaland scored each objectives within the second half of the 2-0 victory on the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, however afterwards Guardiola mentioned the Norwegian’s physique language in the course of the first 45 minutes was “not good.”

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City resume their UEFA Champions League defence in opposition to Copenhagen on Tuesday and forward of the sport, Haaland, who has returned after two months out with a foot harm, has been advised by his supervisor to stay optimistic, even when he isn’t scoring.

“Erling is young, playing in the most difficult position on the pitch surrounded by four or five players with minor space,” Guardiola advised a information convention on Monday. “In the primary half [against Everton] perhaps we did not have the particular supply gamers, like Kevin [De Bruyne] for instance, who can discover him. In that second he has to be optimistic. It will come.

“When he scored a aim, he reacted however he does not want to rating as a result of he helps us for many issues. Not simply rating a aim.

“Back [after two months out] is not easy and he’s a huge competitor who wants to score goals. Ok, I know that, we know that, so relax.”

City head into the spherical of 16 of the Champions League as one in every of solely two groups to win all six group stage video games together with Real Madrid.

Guardiola’s workforce are bidding to grow to be the primary facet since Real Madrid’s three-peat in 2016, 2017 and 2018 to retain the trophy, and the 53-year-old says perception within the squad is larger after being topped champions of Europe final season.

“When I arrived eight years ago I had the feeling maybe this competition was too much for us,” mentioned Guardiola. “Our defeats and bad moments helped us to grow up and being in the position we are — two finals and one semifinal in the last three years — the whole club has awareness that we can try to be ourselves.

“Before, I felt they have been saying ‘are you positive Pep? Are we prepared to do it?’

“Now the whole organisation believes we can do it.”

Copenhagen booked their place within the knockout rounds by coming by way of a bunch which additionally included Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Galatasaray.

United have been overwhelmed 4-3 at Parken Stadium and Bayern fell behind earlier than narrowly profitable 2-1.

Copenhagen have not performed a aggressive recreation since their last group recreation in opposition to Galatasaray on Dec. 12 due to Denmark’s winter break however City defender Nathan Aké continues to be anticipating a tough evening.

“We know it’ll be tough,” mentioned Aké. “The group they were in was one of the toughest and to come out of that shows what a top test we’ll have. We won it last year but it doesn’t change the fact that we want to do the same and go as far as possible. It’s probably one of the hardest competitions in the world.”