Manchester City He obtained a new victory in the Premier League that puts him in contention for the title head-to-head with Arsenal in the final stretch. The 5-1 win over Wolverhampton featured the imposing Erling Braut Haalandauthor of four screams in 50 minutes.
With the game under control, pep Guardiola decided take out the Norwegian with eight minutes remaining and the team was already 4-1 up in the Etihad Stadium. But the top scorer – once again – of the competition had an attitude that sparked controversy as soon as he left his place for the Argentine Julián Álvarez to enter (he scored the remaining goal).
The coach shook hands with the 23-year-old footballer as soon as he left the field, but was surprised by the irascibility that Haaland showed, who had already made gestures when he saw his number on the fourth referee’s sign. The cameras focused seconds later on the very annoying striker on the substitute bench.
However, pep surprised and stated after the game that his star’s anger was not directed at him: “He’s a little frustrated, but I understand. He was frustrated with the referee. With long balls they sometimes push and pull him. Yes that’s how it is”he pointed out in the chain SkySports. Without talking about his reaction, the Norwegian praised Guardiola as the one in charge of “pushing” him to continue scoring goals. “I have a coach who pushes me and looks at the players around me. Without them it would not be possible. “Look ahead, towards the next one: there are four finals left to finish the season,” he stated.
Later, the Android was asked if he felt frustrated by leaving the field in the last quarter of an hour in an interview with the program Match of the Day of the BBC: “It was nothing like that. He was happy and Julian (Alvarez) scored, so he was really nice”.
In this sense, Guardiola praised Haaland’s excellent return after overcoming an injury that had him ill weeks ago: “The 20 minutes he played against Nottingham Forest were very good, and today too. We won, but it was a very long injury. It is appreciated that he arrived at the right time. But we arrived together because Erling and Kevin (De Bruyne) have been out, but Phil (Foden) and Julian (Álvarez) have played very well.”
Until now, the Nordic He played 28 (26 as a starter) of the 35 games of his team in the contest and collaborated with 25 screams. That figure allows him to be the top scorer in the championship when the Citizens They still have to play three games, beating Newcastle’s Swedish attacker Alexander Isaac and the Englishman from Chelsea Cole Palmer (both 20).
However, it is far from the relentless record it had last year: it signed 36 goals in 35 presentations to break the record 34 notes in a tournament they held Andy Cole in Newcastle (1993/94) and Alan Shearer in Blackburn (1994/95), when the English competition had 42 dates.
Beyond the scoring power of Erling Haalandhe Manchester City is far from matching the forcefulness of the Arsenalsince the Gunners They have a significant advantage in goal difference (they have +60 compared to +54 for the Sky Blues). This detail, which is based on a subtraction between so many converted and received, is essential because This is the first tiebreaker in an eventual equality in points at the end of the championship.
The Spanish coach, Pep Guardiola, left a crude analysis of his team’s zero margin for error: “Goal difference is not possible, we can’t tie. The way Arsenal have been playing has been very good and consistent. There are three games, I hope we win the first and the second and reach the third with our destiny in our own hands”.
The Manchester cast will return to the ring this Saturday from 8:30 (Argentine time) before Fulham as a visitor for the penultimate matchday and on Tuesday the 14th he will stay in London to face the Tottenham at a pending crossing on date 34. If they win in both cases, they will rise to the top awaiting the decisive duel against West Ham at home.. On the opposite side, Arsenal is already up to date on the calendar and must wait for a setback from its rivals to dream of the crown. On Sunday the 12th he will have a risk visit to Old Trafford in view of Manchester United and will receive Everton at the conclusion of the Premier League.
