Manchester City coach,Pep Guardiola has warned the club’s rivals following the first match of a pre-season tour of Japan on Sunday, claiming that star striker Erling Haaland was in “much better” shape than last season.
Haaland scored twice after coming on at halftime to help City rally from two goals down to defeat Yokohama F-Marinos 5-3 in Tokyo.
The Norwegian scored 52 goals in his debut season at City, including a Premier League record of 36 in a single season.
Comparing last season in that period he’s fitter, much better than last season when he arrived,” Guardiola told reporters after the Tokyo match.
Of course (he) looks good but (he) is still a way from the best condition, like everyone.
However, as impressive as Haaland was in leading City to their historic treble of Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League, his goals dried up at the end of the season.
The striker, who turned 23 on Friday, has gone five games without scoring for City, the longest scoreless streak since he joined the club..
Guardiola noted that it was “important for him to score the two goals in the first game” in Japan.
We know him. In a few weeks he will be in even better condition than now, said Guardiola.
