After the club’s opening match of a preseason tour of Japan on Sunday, Pep Guardiola issued a warning to Manchester City’s rivals, claiming that star striker Erling Haaland was in “much better” shape than last season.
Haaland scored twice after substituting at the break to help City rally from a two-goal deficit to defeat Yokohama F-Marinos, the J-League champions, 5-3 in Tokyo.
The Norwegian scored 52 goals in his first year at City, setting a record for most goals in a single season in the Premier League with 36.
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“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.”
Even though Haaland was impressive in helping City win the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League, his scoring stopped at the end of the season.
The striker, who turned 23 on Friday, has gone five games without scoring for City, the longest drought since he joined the team.
Guardiola stated that it was “important for him to score the two goals in the first game” in Japan in light of this.
“We know him. In a few weeks he will be in even better condition than now,” said Guardiola.
In their first game since defeating Inter Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final last month, Guardiola’s team also scored goals from John Stones, Julian Alvarez, and Rodri.
Due to club captain Ilkay Gundogan leaving the club for Barcelona, only four of the players who began that game were in the initial City XI versus Marinos in Tokyo.
However, in the second half, Bernardo Silva, Haaland, Rodri, Ruben and Dias all made their debuts.
Guardiola also provided an encouraging report on vital midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
Guardiola stated that the Belgian was feeling “much, much, better” despite being forced to leave the Champions League final due to injury.
“I don’t know about Bayern Munich or the next game, Atletico Madrid, because of course he has to train.
“But he is so close. He’s coming back soon,” said Guardiola.
City will next play Bayern on Wednesday in Tokyo. They then travel to Seoul to take on Atletico.