5th November, 2022
Pep Guardiola issued a sarcastic response to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s claim the Manchester City manager’s ego could hold Erling Haaland back, joking he was “jealous” of his striker.
Haaland has scored 17 goals in his first 11 Premier League appearances, making light of suggestions he could struggle to adapt to Guardiola’s style of play.
However, Ibrahimovic – who famously failed to connect with Guardiola when working with him at Barcelona – has suggested the City boss would not take kindly to Haaland’s incredible exploits.
Speaking to Canal+, Ibrahimovic said: “Can Guardiola make Haaland even stronger? It depends on Guardiola’s ego, if he lets him become bigger than him or not. He didn’t let me get bigger.”
Those comments were put to Guardiola at a press conference looking ahead to Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Fulham, provoking a satirical reply from the City boss.
“He’s right. He’s completely right,” Guardiola sarcastically said. “In this club, in this team, my ego is beyond the performance of the players.
“I don’t like it when Erling scores three goals and all the highlights are for him. I’m so jealous, honestly. So jealous. I said afterward: ‘Please, Erling, don’t score any more goals’.
“I want The Sun, The Daily Mail to talk about me. He’s right. He knows me perfectly.”