Manchester City striker Erling Haaland returned after injury on Sunday to secure three vital points in the Premier League title race at Nottingham Forest.
Erling Haaland came on and scored on Sunday (Image: 2024 AMA Sports Photo Agency)
Erling Haaland has admitted he wants to work with Pep Guardiola for ‘some more years’, in an encouraging statement on the future of both the Manchester City striker and his manager.
Haaland signed for City in 2022 for £51m and is under contract until 2027. However, with a player of his elite quality, there are always whispers of a move away, and Haaland’s camp have spoken of the Norwegian’s desire to play in other leagues in the future. Real Madrid are admirers of the striker and he is constantly linked with them in Spanish reports.
Guardiola is nearing the final year of his City contract after signing an extension last season until 2025. The manager has made it clear he intends to see out his contract, and has dropped minor hints over staying beyond next summer. However, he has also insisted that he will not stay beyond his welcome, and the looming Premier League charges and potential punishments could impact his decision past 2025.
So it is encouraging for Haaland to praise Guardiola and declare his intention to continue working with him in a longer-term capacity. Speaking after coming off the bench to score at Nottingham Forest, Haaland told City+: “He’s done great things [for me], he’s a truly special one. I enjoy working with him and hopefully will for some more years.”
The win at Forest was Guardiola’s 300th Premier League game in charge, recording the most wins of any manager in their first 300 fixtures in the competition with 221.
He could add a sixth Premier League title to his collection this season, becoming the first manager to win four in a row, but City know they must win all their games to retain their crown as Guardiola predicted that rivals Arsenal will not drop any points.
“We need every single player now,” Haaland said. “From the bench, people who start, everyone. There’s five more finals left [including the FA Cup final]. Focus on the next one. It’s about winning now. It doesn’t matter who scores and who doesn’t.”
With Haaland back from injury at Forest following two games out, Guardiola confirmed he wasn’t ready to start at the City Ground, but is on track to be ready for the run-in. “It is important that he is back and doing what he does,” he said. “Kevin [De Bruyne] found him and it was a really good finish. He was not ready for 90 minutes but it was good for him to be back.”