Premier League: Haaland goalscoring heroics a ‘surprise’, says Guardiola

The 22-year-old netted his 34th goal of the league campaign in Sunday’s 2-1 win at Fulham, drawing him level with joint Premier League single-season record holders Andy Cole and Alan Shearer.

Erling Haaland of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Manchester City at Craven Cottage on April 30, 2023, in London, England. | Photo Credit: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Pep Guardiola says Erling Haaland’s astonishing scoring feats for Manchester City have been a “surprise”, with the Norwegian on the cusp of breaking the Premier League’s single-season goal record.

The 22-year-old netted his 34th goal of the league campaign in Sunday’s 2-1 win at Fulham, drawing him level with joint Premier League single-season record holders Andy Cole and Alan Shearer.

Haaland’s strike at Craven Cottage was his 50th goal of the season -- he holds the all-competitions record by a Premier League player since the top flight was rebranded in 1992.

With a potential 10 games remaining for treble-chasing City this term, Haaland could even pass Dixie Dean’s all-time English record of 63 goals set in the 1927/28 season.

The Everton player’s mark of 60 top-flight strikes during that campaign will surely remain intact.

It has been a breath-taking first year in English football for Haaland, but Guardiola is confident there is, even more, to come from the former Borussia Dortmund star.

“It is a surprise for all of us -- maybe not for him -- to do what he’s doing in this difficult league but the way he behaves and has done it is for the success of the team,” he said.

“Of course, it’s good for him and the team if he breaks the records. It’s a good sign.

“The magnitude of a record is because, for a long time, it was not broken. All records will be broken one day.

“I’m pretty sure he is going to score more goals in the Premier League until the end of the season.”

In-form City put themselves firmly in control of the title race with their 4-1 rout of Arsenal last week.

But, after being pushed hard by Fulham, Guardiola is not taking anything for granted ahead of City’s home game against West Ham on Wednesday.

“West Ham maybe didn’t do the season they expected, but that doesn’t mean the quality is not there,” he said.

“In the last two seasons with David Moyes, they have been exceptional.

“The weapons are there, they are a good team. I don’t have doubts about them. In one game anything can happen. We have to be absolutely ready.”