Erling Haaland should not put pressure on himself to score, says Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has insisted Erling Haaland should not put too much pressure on himself to constantly score for Manchester City.

Haaland’s stoppage-time penalty against Liverpool on Sunday not only sealed a 2-1 victory for City but was also only his third goal in 10 appearances, with only one of these from open play. Afterwards, Haaland stated he must improve his output and refused to blame fatigue for his form. Guardiola, though, has praised the contribution of the 25-year-old, who has 28 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions for the club this season.

“We cannot forget he’s not 29, 30 years old; he’s young and it’s part of the process,” said Guardiola. “Every season he lives, he’s a better player for the next one. How he knows his body better, how he knows what it means to play every day. We cannot forget the last games. Maybe he doesn’t have the numbers that he wants, but we are in the position that we are thanks to him.

“For three-quarters of the season, if he didn’t score, I don’t know who’s going to score. We are in the position in the Champions League [into the last 16], and especially in the Premier League, without Erling it would not be possible.”

Guardiola was impressed with Haaland’s calm when converting from the spot at the weekend. “It’s not easy – Anfield, 91, 92 minutes, and the situation that we have, taken there and taken with this composure, his body language, in his eyes there was fire there, and it’s not easy,” he said. “That defines the good players. Hopefully he can be lifted. And the reason why he is tired, a little bit down, it’s down to one reason – the calendar. So no more than that.”

Erling Haaland put away his penalty on Sunday to take all three points from the game. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

Abdukodir Khusanov has started City’s last 10 games and impressed. The defender was taken off on 61 minutes at Anfield with a suspected concussion but tests showed he did not suffer one and so will be available for Fulham’s visit to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

Khusanov’s English is not great but Guardiola insists there are no communication problems as far as the 21-year-old Uzbek is concerned. “He doesn’t speak like William Shakespeare but he’s getting better and better. He understands what we want and every time he is getting better. He is so intelligent.

“Normally you have the opinion that because he is so physical and strong and fast that he’s not able to think, but it’s completely the opposite – he always makes good decisions.”