Pep Guardiola Accused of Misusing Erling Haaland by His Former Coach

Erling Haaland is one of a kind when it comes to scoring goals. The striker has a killer instinct for finding opportunities to slot the ball into the back of the net. His move to Manchester City last season has seen him develop as one of the most lethal strikers on the planet. One look at Erling, and you can tell he’s built differently! The striker, since his early days at RB Salzburg, showcased his prowess as a striker and the ability to excel even in rough situations. However, his game has seen a massive improvement under Pep Guardiola, with Haaland playing in a more refined system.

However, Haaland’s former coach & ex-RB Salzburg boss Jesse Marsch does not have the same opinion. Marsch was present on CBS’ ‘Kickin It’ alongside Kate Abdo, Clint Dempsey, Charlie Davies, and Mo Edu, commenting on multiple topics from his career. During the podcast, when he was asked about Haaland’s move to Manchester City, the ex-USMNT assistant coach claimed he was not too excited about the transfer.

Marsch claimed City didn’t play Erling Haaland in a suitable position, adding, “To be honest, I wasn’t so excited for him to go to Manchester City. Erling is best in transition. No question, he is unhuman. The way he can run and sprint and attack and be dynamic. My biggest thing for playing with Man City is he doesn’t access that. He stands in the box.”

The former Salzburg head coach then added, “It’s not so simple as he can stand in the box, but he can move around and be there at the end of plays. He still scores incredible goals, and he is so intelligent in how to find the game. Obviously, he’s an incredible player and still developed and done an amazing job.”

While the ex-Salzburg coach might be fair in his assessment, it is crucial to note that the Erling Haaland he coached and the striker under Pep Guardiola are two diverse players. Haaland, under Pep Guardiola, has developed as a lethal number nine, whose primary job is to convert the chances inside the box.

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How has Erling Haaland fared under Pep Guardiola?

The Norwegian striker has been on fire since his move to Manchester City. Erling Haaland has made 81 appearances under the Spaniard, finding the back of the net a staggering 72 times. The striker has put up great numbers under Pep Guardiola, with the Manchester City number nine boasting an average of 3.9 shots on target per game this season. Apart from that, his game awareness has also been on the next level, with the player found offside just 0.1 times per game.

Manchester City has allowed Haaland to function in his natural territory rather than urging the player to adapt to the team’s system. It has permitted the team to play efficiently, with the midfielders doing their best to find the striker inside the thirty-yard-radius. After that, well, you just have to trust the big goal-scoring machine, and most of the time he’ll comfortably slot the ball into the back of the net!

READ MORE: Erling Haaland ‘Will Shut Your Mouth’ Warns Pep Guardiola, After Critics Doubted Manchester City Star’s Comeback