Pep Guardiola stated Erling Haaland is “a little bit bit above” Alexander Isak because the Manchester Metropolis boss responded to Arne Slot’s declare that Liverpool’s new signing was “possibly the perfect striker on this planet”.
Isak may make his Liverpool debut at Burnley on Sunday after the Sweden star accomplished a British-record £125 million ($169 million) transfer from Newcastle on switch deadline day.
Liverpool supervisor Slot hailed Isak’s high quality after the 25-year-old skilled with the Premier League champions for the primary time this week.
However his suggestion that Isak may very well be the world’s greatest didn’t go down effectively with Metropolis boss Guardiola.
Haaland has scored 88 instances in 100 Premier League video games for Metropolis since signing from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, serving to them win two Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup.
Isak moved to Newcastle from Actual Sociedad in 2022 and scored 54 targets in 86 league appearances, serving to the Magpies finish their 56-year trophy drought by successful the League Cup final season.
Guardiola was fast to again Haaland because the cream of the crop on Friday.
“A little bit bit above,” he stated of Haaland. “Isak is an distinctive participant. You requested me about Erling and he’s high.
“Isak should be a high participant due to what they paid. One other one would say (Kylian) Mbappe, one other (Lionel) Messi, Cristiano (Ronaldo).
“I wouldn’t change Erling for anybody. I do know him. I like him.”
Guardiola will want Haaland at his predatory greatest as Metropolis search to get again on monitor in Sunday’s Manchester derby after successive defeats towards Tottenham and Brighton.
After a disappointing third-place end final season, Guardiola hoped his revamped group would hit the bottom working however they’ve been beset by accidents and defensive issues.
– ‘Big’ Donnarumma –
Metropolis have introduced in Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain to exchange Ederson, who left for Fenerbahce after eight years in Manchester.
The Brazilian was a mainstay of Metropolis’s dynastic run within the Premier League however his type dipped over the previous two seasons.
Ederson’s capability to launch assaults together with his excellent vary of passing contrasts with Donnarumma’s extra rudimentary abilities on the ball, however Guardiola has no considerations concerning the change.
“I all the time attempt to adapt to the standard of the gamers. I wouldn’t demand Gigi do one thing he’s uncomfortable with,” stated Guardiola, who refused to substantiate whether or not Donnarumma or James Trafford would begin in purpose towards United on the Etihad Stadium.
“We’re speaking about the perfect goalkeeper I’ve ever seen with distribution, quick and lengthy passes, in Ederson.
“We didn’t take Gigi to do what Ederson has completed. Gigi has one other high quality. He’s so tall. He’s so big.
“All of the keepers save photographs, carry persona to the group and be a giant presence. He has completed that within the largest video games.”
Guardiola just isn’t fearful regardless of Metropolis’s gradual begin to the season.
“If you change 10 gamers in 4 or 5 months the whole lot must be settled, fastened and constant,” he stated.
“We’re nonetheless doing many good issues however we nonetheless should be extra constant than we’ve been. Step-by-step we’ll do it.”
