Pep Guardiola hits back at critics of Erling Haaland after Real Madrid showing

Pep Guardiola has stepped forward to support Erling Haaland after the Manchester City striker's recent form was hit with heavy criticism.

Following some below par performances against Liverpool, Arsenal, and Real Madrid, the likes of Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane have publicly questioned Haaland's role in the team, with the latter claiming he plays more like a 'League Two player'.

Guardiola defended Haaland last month and, after the striker's showing in City's 3-3 draw with Madrid brought further criticism, has once again moved to brush off concerns about the Norwegian's impact on the team.

Asked how pleased he was with the player's impact, Guardiola said: "A lot. He helps us to make more spaces in the areas and his contribution has been exceptional since the day he arrived last season.

"They [the pundits] do whatever they want. That is not a problem. They have an opinion, I have an opinion and it doesn’t matter if it is right or wrong. If I give an opinion it looks like I want to criticise the pundits but I don't. We can agree or disagree.

"We are quite similar to last season – we scored four goals, four goals and three goals in the last three games, 11 goals in three games and Erling helped us score some of them by creating spaces for the others to score the goals.

"I saw in his face and in what he said after the game in the locker room [after Madrid] he was extremely happy.

"The target is not the Ballon d’Or, the target is to win trophies and he did. Would we have won five trophies last year without him? Not a chance."

Guardiola's comments come after Keane doubled down on his decision to compare Haaland to a League Two player.

"I don't know what the big deal is, I give praise every week, I give praise, and I think he's an amazing striker," Keane said before adding: "But his general play is that of a League Two player. And I'm glad you are not agreeing with me, I don't expect people to agree with me.

"His general play, week in, week out is nowhere near good enough. As a goalscorer and a striker, the best – and I said that. His link-up play, the way he lays the ball off, sometimes the options he gives his teammates or the options he doesn't give them – as a striker and a goalscorer the best in the world, but his other play is that of a League Two player."

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