Guardiola issues Ballon d'Or challenge to Haaland and Man City teammates

08 November 2023 , 07:05

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Guardiola issues Ballon d'Or challenge to Haaland and Man City teammates

Pep Guardiola tipped Erling Haaland to win the Ballon d'Or after his latest goalscoring masterclass.

Haaland scored twice – including a sensational 25-yard strike - as holders City marched into the Champions League last 16. But victory came at a price for City, with England defender John Stones picking up an injury Guardiola said will keep him out “for a while”.

Haaland took his goal tally for the season to 15 in as many games as City made it to the knockout stage for the 11th season in a row. The Norwegian came second to Lionel Messi in the Ballon d'Or this year, but Guardiola was asked if the 23-year-old can lift the award next year.

“If he and his mates can win more trophies, then he will have a chance to win it,” said Guardiola. “If he doesn't, then he won't win it.”

Haaland took his goal tally to 39 in just 34 Champions League matches and has now scored 67 in 70 games for City. He was unplayable, so much so that Young Boys captain Mohamed Ali Camara asked him for his shirt at half-time with the score at 2-0.

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Guardiola's joy at qualifying was tempered by the injury to Stones, a recurrence of the problem that kept him out at the start of the season. “I feel so sorry for him,” said the Spanish boss.

Pep Guardiola talks to Man City striker Erling Haaland (AP)

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“He felt it again. It's a big loss for us. I think he will be out for a while. John is so important for what he does. But the season is long and he can recover. He will be back stronger.”

Victory made it 23 consecutive home wins for Guardiola's side, just one short of the English record set by Sunderland across 1891 and 1892. City can equal that record when they host Liverpool in the Premier League on November 25.

Prior to that clash, City travel to Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday. That will be their last Premier League clash ahead of the next international break.

David McDonnell