Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has explained the key difference between Cityzens hitman Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) superstar Lionel Messi.<\/p>\n
The Norwegian continued his fine run of form with a spectacular brace in Manchester City’s 4-1 win against Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday (April 8). He now has 30 goals in just 27 league games.<\/p>\n
Haaland<\/a> is only the ninth player to score 30 or more goals in a 38-game Premier League season. The striker is also just two short of matching Mohamed Salah’s record for most goals by a player in a single Premier League campaign.<\/p>\n Speaking after the rout against Southampton, Guardiola pointed out the key difference between Haaland and his former pupil Messi. He explained that the Manchester City frontman is always in a good mood, while the PSG<\/a> superstar could be upset about not doing better, saying (h\/t the Manchester Evening News):<\/p>\n “Haaland is always happy, always smiling. Lionel Messi scored two but not three and was a bit sad because he didn’t score the third! Erling is all the time in an incredible mood.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “Even in the bad moments in the beginning of this season when people said he couldn’t adapt, he arrived at training with a big smile and said hi to everyone. He has had an incredible impact, not just on the pitch.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Guardiola continued:<\/p>\n “Every day in training sessions, in the locker room. I have the feeling that he is so happy with us. He never complains about (being taken off). He respects me a lot. After Burnley, he was injured and couldn’t play against Liverpool, so we know him and have to take care of him. He can score important goals and win games.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n “He is going to play 90 minutes but with this amount of games every three days, and you have another weapon in Julian (Alvarez), who is always ready. That’s why it is a big boost for us.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n With nine more games left to play in the Premier League, Haaland is on course to knock Salah’s record out of the park.<\/p>\nPSG superstar Lionel Messi played under Pep Guardiola at Barcelona<\/h2>\n