Pep Guardiola reveals surprising thing that ‘impressed him most’ about Man City star Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland has built a reputation as a striker to be feared by opposition defences since he joined Manchester City.

The Norwegian has already scored eight hat-tricks since his switch from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 and has registered 80 goals in 84 games for City. Haaland, in his debut campaign, also set the record for the most goals in a single Premier League season, when he netted 36 last term.

But, speaking ahead of City’s Champions League clash against Copenhagen on Wednesday, Pep Guardiola revealed it’s not Haaland’s on-field performances that have impressed him most since his transfer, but his ability to seamlessly adapt to City’s squad.

The 23-year-old has formed tight connections with a number of City players - including Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, and Guardiola was asked about his how easy it was for the attacker to settle in with his new team-mates.

“It was so quick,” explained the Catalan, in Tuesday’s press conference. “That’s what impressed me the most since the first pre-season tour. It was quick and it happened.

“I think the guys embrace the new ones really quickly. But the new ones have to do that step depending on how they are - always smiling. I said that is what impressed me most off the pitch, his lovely character.

“Some of the biggest stars, the more humble they are,” he added. “I don’t know what but it happened when I was a player in Barcelona, normally the biggest ones understand better. Maybe that is why they are bigger stars, for that reason.”