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Pep Guardiola explains why he never wanted to be a journalist and warns against criticising Erling Haaland as ‘top strikers.
Pep Guardiola has offered insight into his approach of refraining from criticizing top strikers, particularly in light of Erling Haaland’s pivotal performance that secured Manchester City’s victory over Brentford.
Haaland, who faced scrutiny following a less-than-ideal performance against Chelsea, redeemed himself by netting the sole goal in a challenging match against Thomas Frank’s side. Guardiola recalled advice from a journalist in his youth, emphasizing the importance of refraining from criticism towards prolific goal scorers.
“When I was younger, a friend advised me: ‘Top scorers score a lot of goals, don’t criticize, they will silence you,'” Guardiola shared this during a press conference.
Guardiola also acknowledged the personal challenges Haaland had been navigating, including the recent loss of his grandmother. Despite Haaland’s previous missed opportunities, Guardiola expressed unwavering confidence in the striker, stating, “Sooner or later, he delivers. He has been through a lot, including a two-month absence and the loss of his grandmother. It’s not easy for anyone.”
When questioned about his choice of profession, Guardiola humorously deflected, affirming his contentment as a manager while playfully stating, “My life is better than yours. But it’s nothing personal.”
With the victory, the champions rose to second place in the Premier League and are currently only one point behind leaders Liverpool. On Wednesday, when they host Luton, Jurgen Klopp’s team has the opportunity to widen their lead; but, on Saturday, when they go to Bournemouth, City has another chance to close the gap.