Pep Guardiola Opens Up on Exchange with Erling Haaland After Man City’s Hard-Fought Leeds Win
After Manchester City’s hard-fought 3-2 triumph against Leeds United on Saturday, a visibly animated discussion took place between Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland, sparking curiosity about what was said.
The Manchester City manager has now disclosed the content of their exchange.
The Norwegian striker, eager to achieve his milestone 100th Premier League goal, had to exercise patience as the reigning champions ultimately secured the win at their home ground.
After stumbling in recent matches against Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen in both domestic and European competition, Manchester City bounced back with an important win against Daniel Farke’s Leeds United.
Establishing an early advantage with goals from Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol, City saw their lead diminished as Leeds responded with goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, leveling the score.
However, just as the game appeared to be heading for a draw, midfielder Foden stepped up to secure the victory in the dying moments.
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With a skillful display of footwork, Foden created an opportunity for himself and unleashed a shot that found the back of the net, eluding Leeds’ goalkeeper Lucas Perri.
This hard-fought triumph propelled Guardiola’s team to second position in the league standings, closing the gap to just four points behind league leaders Arsenal, who are set to face off against third-placed Chelsea in a highly anticipated match on Sunday.
Erling Haaland experienced a frustrating match in the 2025-26 season, failing to increase his impressive goal count for the year.
The prolific forward, already the leading scorer in the league with 14 goals from 13 matches, played the entire game but couldn’t score against struggling Leeds United, a team his father, Alf Inge Haaland, had previously played for.
Haaland’s attempt to break the record for the fewest games to 100 Premier League goals was delayed, adding to his disappointment.
Following the game, he engaged in a heated discussion with his manager, Pep Guardiola. After seemingly making his argument, Haaland attempted to leave, but Guardiola embraced him twice, eager to also share his own thoughts.
The conversation eventually ended with both Haaland and Guardiola smiling, suggesting a resolution to their disagreement.
Guardiola Shares His Post-Match Words With Haaland
Guardiola has now shared what he discussed with Haaland after the match. Speaking to BBC Sport, the former manager of Barcelona and Bayern Munich explained that he assured Haaland he would reach his milestone goal in the next game.
He elaborated that their conversation focused on the importance of recuperation. Guardiola emphasized that Haaland’s physique requires careful management of playing time to maintain freshness, particularly given his size.
He suggested that providing rest is crucial not only for physical recovery but also for mental well-being.
He contrasted Haaland’s needs with those of smaller players like Phil Foden or Jeremy Doku, who might recover more easily. Guardiola made it clear that Haaland’s contribution is vital to the team’s success.
Haaland, following the hard-fought victory against Leeds, posted a brief message on Instagram, acknowledging the difficulty of the match but highlighting the team’s unwavering determination.
Foden’s Talent Highlighted by Ex-Barcelona and Bayern Coach
Guardiola confessed to feeling a sense of ease when Foden secured City’s late victory against Leeds, acknowledging the match was a hard-fought battle.
However, he also expressed his belief that his team should have sealed the win much sooner, given the opportunities they created.
Following the game, the manager stated that while the first half wasn’t flawless, they should have already had the game wrapped up considering the scoring chances they had and the lack of chances they conceded to the opponent.
He added that after Leeds made a clever tactical shift, similar to Leverkusen, and adopted a 5-3-2 formation, City carelessly conceded a goal early in the second half.
“The entire approach to the game was fundamentally altered, and the team’s formation had a significant impact on how we conducted ourselves on the field.
Football is a game driven by feelings, and unfortunately, we conceded a second goal at a crucial juncture. However, we demonstrated resilience and responded admirably to the setback.
The introduction of Omar and Cherki injected fresh energy into the team, and we were able to commit more players to attacking positions inside the penalty area.
“In the dying moments of the match, our focus shifted to rapidly delivering the ball into the area, abandoning any strict tactical structure.
Whether it was our defenders or wide players contributing, the priority was simply to get the ball forward. Ultimately, it was the exceptional skill of Phil that proved decisive, highlighting his undeniable talent and ability to make a difference.
Looking ahead, City’s schedule remains demanding. They face an away fixture against Fulham in the league on Tuesday, followed by a home clash against the impressive Sunderland next Saturday.
The pinnacle of the upcoming fixtures is undoubtedly their trip to Real Madrid on December 10th for a highly anticipated Champions League encounter.”
