Head coach Pep Guardiola dismissed Erling Haaland, and spoke candidly over another Manchester City star by calling him "one of the biggest talents" he’s seen in his career.

Manchester City face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League with Erling Haaland in fine form for Pep Guardiola’s side.The Norwegian has hit 26 goals for club and country this term and pinpointed his humility as fundamental to his success on the pitch.

Bournemouth equalized eight minutes later, when Tyler Adams took advantage of the mistake of Man City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. In the 32nd minute, Haaland ran past the Bournemouth keeper and slotted the ball past him into the empty net. The Norwegian’s second goal marked his 13th Premier League goal of the season.

Erling Haaland is on the same level as the Argentinian football legend, but he is a completely different type of player.

Erling Haaland, the Manchester City forward, puts the team's success above personal glory. While hes shattering scoring records, he remains grounded and is committed to guiding the Norwegian national team to the 2026 World Cup.

© Ryan Pierse/Getty ImagesErling Haaland of Manchester City reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and SSC ...

Pep Guardiola has claimed that Erling Haaland is performing at the level of peak Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after the Manchester City striker’s 17th goal of the season in only 13 games.

Haaland thought he had rescued a point with a late equaliser, sliding in and colliding with the back post before the ball crossed the line, only to be denied by the offside flag. And that knock against the upright has proved troublesome, with Guardiola ruling Haaland out of the Carabao Cup victory at Swansea as a result.

Give Erling Haaland the ball and he will score' had proved to be a pretty effective tactic for Manchester City over the previous two months, but Aston Villa have exposed its flaws. They found a way to blunt the Norwegian's edges on Sunday,

Andoni Iraola shares the same inspiration as Guardiola: the high priest of the high press Marcelo Bielsa. Bournemouth are a closer imitation of the Argentine’s full-throttle ideals, boasting the most aggressive off-the-ball approach in the Premier League which has overwhelmed much of the division this season.