´It comes from his mum and dad´ – Guardiola labels Haaland a born goalscorer after Manchester derby

Pep Guardiola described Erling Haaland as a born goalscorer after he claimed another hat-trick in Manchester City’s derby rout of Manchester United, declaring: “what he is doing, I didn’t teach him”.

Haaland continued his fine start to life in England by playing a central role in City’s 6-3 win over United, clinching a treble and adding two assists for fellow hat-trick hero Phil Foden.

The Norwegian – who has already hit 17 goals in all competitions this season – became the first player in Premier League history to score hat-tricks in three successive home games on Sunday.

His tally of five goal contributions at the Etihad Stadium, meanwhile, is the most recorded by a player in a single Premier League Manchester Derby.

Guardiola refused to take credit for the striker’s form after the win, saying: “I said it many times and I will say again – what Erling is doing, he did in Norway, Austria and Germany.

“The quality we have alongside him helps him score, but what he is doing, I didn’t teach him.

“He has incredible instincts. It comes from his mum and dad. He was born with that.”

Erling Haaland goals per touch UPDATE:

one goal every 13.6 touches pic.twitter.com/De2iWJM9Cx

— The Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) October 2, 2022

As well as laying on two goals for Foden, Haaland created a game-high four chances on Sunday, and Guardiola was delighted by the quality of his link-up play.

“I have had incredible centre-forwards in my career,” Guardiola continued. “What I liked was in the last period of the game, he was involved. I want him to be involved.

“He became a player to score goals, but I want him in contact with the ball. I like him being part of those situations.

“But of course, he has to put the ball in the net, and he is a fantastic striker.”

3 – In Erling Haaland & Phil Foden, @ManCity are the third side to have two hat-trick scorers in a single @premierleague game, after Arsenal v Southampton in May 2003 (Jermaine Pennant, Robert Pires) & Leicester v Southampton in October 2019 (Ayoze Pérez, Jamie Vardy). Historic. pic.twitter.com/OfpU1yfkBV

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 2, 2022

Haaland has started all 11 of City’s competitive games this term, and Guardiola plans to offer him the opportunity to rest at some point.

“He will take a break. There will be games he is not going to play,” he said.

“We are lucky, last season he could not play many games in a row – here we have incredible physios and thanks to them, he can play every 90 minutes.

“They are so important – with their hands, they allow players to play.”