MY ACCOUNT
Pep Guardiola insisted it is only a matter of time before we see the best of Erling Haaland after the striker had just eight touches during Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Bournemouth.
The Norwegian, 22, announced himself to the Premier League with two goals against West Ham last week but had a more frustrating afternoon on his home debut.
He provided the assist for Ilkay Gundogan’s opener but could not convert two chances to get on the scoresheet himself.
Despite that, further strikes from Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and a Jefferson Lerma own goal ensured a comfortable victory for the champions.
On Haaland’s display, City boss Guardiola said: “He plays the most difficult job in the world.
“When you are a striker and in the defensive areas, teams like Bournemouth have three central defenders and two players in front and you are in the middle, how can you survive in that?
“It’s so difficult. We know it. We’ll find many situations. It’s just a question of time.
“The right moments, the right movements, and with the quality of the players we have behind him to assist him we’ll find him. I don’t have any doubts about that.
“We have seen it in the past with other teams. We have to be patient.”
The striker was also left visibly disappointed when Foden failed to square the ball for an easy tap-in early on, but City’s superb attacking display was eventually able to break down Bournemouth’s resistance.
“The team did a really good performance against a team that is well structured defensively and offensively as well with good patterns,” Guardiola added.
“They defend so deep, so narrow, you have to go outside. We started really well with three or four corners after just six or seven minutes, lots of chances. Phil did not see Erling in that position but we were patient.
“It was a warm day. It was not easy for so many reasons but we make a really, really good performance.”
The defeat brought Scott Parker’s Cherries back down to earth after marking their return to the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa last week.
But despite the humbling encounter, the 41-year-old insisted it will not define their season.
He said: “We played against a world class team that can execute in any given moment.
“I said before the game we need to have 11 men with 10 out of 10 performances and to ride our luck, we’re going to have to take the very few chances we’re going to get along with every other team that comes here.
“You have to be clinical. We didn’t manage to do that and then the quality they have shone through.
“After the goals go in you could be on the end of one but I was pleased with the team in the way they stuck at it with good endeavour, good personality and good courage. We can be pleased with that.
“Our season is not this. Man City away is not a team that will define our season.
“This is a game we need to analyse of course and we’ll do that and see where we can improve and get better. We’ll dust ourselves down and go again.”
The Citizens travel to face Newcastle in their next Premier League game, while Bournemouth welcome Arsenal to the Vitality Stadium.
