Pep Guardiola Rejects Haaland Comparisons to Messi After Man City Hat Trick

• Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick to help Manchester City secure a comfortable 4-1 win against Ipswich Town
• The Norwegian striker is aiming to win the Premier League Golden Boot three consecutive times
• Pep Guardiola was asked if Haaland is the most complete centre-forward he has ever seen, and he gave an intriguing answer

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has dismissed comparisons between Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi.

The Norwegian striker bagged a hat-trick in Man City's 4-1 win over Ipswich Town in their second Premier League game of the 2024/25 season.

The striker was on fire as the defending champions registered their second Premier League win against the newly promoted side.

Man City went behind early in the second half but fired back minutes later and never looked back as Haaland bagged a hat-trick to take his tally this season to four goals.

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The towering striker now has 23 hat tricks in his career and is still only 24. He has 94 goals in 101 games for the club.

Guardiola on Haaland vs Messi

A reporter asked Guardiola if Haaland is the most complete centre forward he has seen after his hat trick. The former Barcelona coach dismissed it and gave an interesting answer.

"The most incredible forward I have seen is Messi. I think he can sit in the table in terms of scoring goals with Cristiano Ronaldo," per BeIn Sports.

Guardiola coached Messi for four seasons at Barcelona, and under his guidance, the Argentine produced the best season for any footballer in the 21st century.

He scored 73 goals in the 1011/12 season and won a Ballon d'Or every season under Guardiola. His World Cup win in 2022 cemented his status as arguably the greatest footballer ever.

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Meanwhile, Haaland is considered the best player in the world right now. He has won every trophy in club football and has been breaking records in the Premier League despite joining two seasons ago.

What Guardiola said about winning EPL title

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Pep Guardiola has expressed a surprising lack of motivation to win this season's Premier League title.

Since taking charge in the summer of 2016, Guardiola has led City to unparalleled success, securing seven English top-flight titles, including an unprecedented four consecutive championships.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich tactician has suggested that winning another Premier League title isn't his primary focus—at least not yet.

Source: TUKO.co.ke