Pep praises Haaland\u2019s hard work in Magpies victory<\/p>\n
Pep Guardiola hailed the selflessness of Erling Haaland after helping City in our crucial 2-1 victory over Newcastle United.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n A brace from Nico O\u2019Reilly secured an important three points to maintain the pressure on leaders Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.<\/p>\n Haaland is clear at the top of the goalscoring charts with 22 already this season as he aims to be the Premier League\u2019s leading scorer for the third time in four years with the Blues.<\/p>\n But while he wasn\u2019t on target against the Magpies, it was a brilliant performance form the Norwegian who had a fierce battle with Newcastle defenders at both ends of the pitch.<\/p>\n Guardiola was hugely grateful for Haaland\u2019s impact in a game where the striker didn\u2019t have many sights of the visitors\u2019 goal.<\/p>\n \u201cI prefer [it if] we don\u2019t have to defend but when it\u2019s long balls, Erling is a striker who has to work as a central defender,\u201d the City boss said.<\/p>\n \u201cWith Burns and Joelinton at the end [of the game] and all the players in behind, he had to help us.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not a big fan of getting Erling to defend but he helped us. I know afterwards how the people hugged him and celebrated with him and pay gratitude that he helped us because Newcastle made us do that.<\/p>\n \u201cI am only sad for him because there were actions where we could make the last pass to him and we couldn\u2019t find him.<\/p>\n
\n Match Highlights
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\n 8-Minute highlights: City 2-1 Newcastle United
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