Pep Guardiola has called on Erling Haaland “to deliver” and inspire another decade of success after signing an historic nine-and-a-half-year contract at Manchester City.
City travel to Ipswich on Sunday looking for a third win in four matches to reignite their Premier League season after a disappointing spell that saw them lose six in eight matches. “I’ve been really pleased – but now we have to deliver,” Guardiola said after he was stunned on learning the duration of striker’s deal.
“I’ve been here for more than 500 games, maybe 503 – and 485 of them, more or less, have been exceptional. The last 12 or 13 have not been how we expect but if you look at the bigger picture it’s been a dream. If Erling is here, he has to deliver. He has to perform well with the team and push – and they have to push each other. The manager will be with him. But we have to deliver and continue to do it.”
After spending the first half of the season without a natural backup striker in the City squad after the sale of Julián Álvarez and with Haaland set to continue in east Manchester until he is 33 being his understudy will be a challenging role. Since joining in 2022, the Norwegian has scored 111 goals in 125 games, won the Premier League twice and lifted the Champions League in addition to a plethora of individual awards.
City have agreed a deal to sign 25-year-old Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt, who will have the task of supporting Haaland. “The biggest strikers will not come to be a replacement for Erling, you have to find someone young to accept the role,” Guardiola said. “We will find a solution. We cannot go now to buy [Kylian] Mbappé, of course. Mbappé was an example to put a top, top, top, top, top class player to play. We should play differently. Normally we play with just one striker, so that’s why the club and the incredible news that they have, and of course we have alternatives, just in case Erling cannot play all games and all the minutes.”
Should Marmoush arrive at City, he will be able to study one of the best strikers in the world up close. “Absolutely,” Guardiola replied when asked if Haaland can be a role model. “That is the best lesson we can do for the young players, when playing with these players. Like a striker, the moment from Erling in the box, it’s unbelievable. How good, how good he is? Just take a look and that is the best way to improve. Playing minutes and learn from the best. And the best we had a lot in this era, in this, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 years.”
