Football: Haaland sets Man City record, as champions crush Bournemouth

LONDON – Pep Guardiola hailed Erling Haaland after the “incredible” striker set a club goal record in Manchester City’s 4-1 thrashing of Bournemouth to keep the pressure on leaders Arsenal on Saturday.

Haaland scored his 27th goal in 24 Premier League appearances, establishing a new single-season City record in the competition as he moved past Sergio Aguero’s total of 26 from 2014-15.

Encapsulating the gulf in class between the teams, his tally is more than the 22 scored by the entire Bournemouth squad in the league this season.

“Considering the amount of games and a lot of travel, we played incredibly aggressive. Our attack was more dynamic and we got a good result,” Guardiola said.

“Erling Haaland, his impact has been incredible. We love him and he is helping us. Today we found him more and he is an incredible threat.”

Despite his barrage of goals, Haaland had endured criticism over the last week amid a growing debate about his perceived flaws and possible negative impact on City this season.

His costly misses in the 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest on Feb 18 – which allowed Arsenal to reclaim top spot – led some to question if City, champions in four of the past five seasons, are a less cohesive unit with the Norway striker in their line-up.

But Haaland’s 33rd goal in 32 appearances in all competitions since signing from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 should silence the doubters for a while at least.

Guardiola’s side had led through Julian Alvarez’s early strike at the Vitality Stadium before Haaland netted.

Phil Foden’s first league goal since November and a Chris Mepham own goal completed City’s first win in their last three games in all competitions.

Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Leicester City earlier on Saturday had piled the pressure on City, who could ill-afford to slip up for a second successive weekend after the draw with Forest.

They had also failed to hold on to their advantage in last Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at RB Leipzig in the Champions League last 16, first leg.

City defender Rico Lewis told Sky Sports: “The best thing to do to come back from a few poor results is to win. We are gutted not to get a clean sheet but it sends out a message. The early goal set the tone and we could have had more in the end.”

However, former England and Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp blamed Guardiola for City’s patchy form.

He said on Sky Sports: “If they go to a conventional back four, I think they win the league by six or seven points, but the fact that he’s messing around with the team all the time, I think has given other teams a chance.

“The players don’t quite know where they’re fitting into the system. Haaland has given them such an outlet in terms of goals but they’ve lost that extra player in midfield. That’s why he’s trying to get one of the fullbacks into midfield. 

“When we can’t guess your team, sometimes it’s hard for the players.”

But City had never lost to Bournemouth in 18 previous meetings and they routed the strugglers for the second time this season to move within two points of Arsenal, who have a game in hand against Everton on Wednesday.

The visitors began strongly, dominating possession and putting together a series of slick moves.

They took the lead in the 15th minute as Alvarez fired in a rebound after Haaland’s deflected shot cannoned off the crossbar.

Haaland then netted his first goal in three matches just before the half-hour mark. Foden sealed the three points on the cusp of half-time, pouncing on an errant pass by Philip Billing and gliding past Jack Stephens to let loose a thumping finish.

Jefferson Lerma’s late goal was scant consolation as the hosts slipped to second from bottom after Leeds and West Ham both won on Saturday .

“If you make a small mistake, they will punish you,” said Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil.
AFP, REUTERS