Guardiola: 'Haaland is too good'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits his team is built around 'too good' Erling Haaland .

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Citizens' Champions League clash at home to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night, Guardiola eulogised his clinical striker who will be playing against his former side

Asked about the initial decision to sign the Norwegian, Guardiola said: "I played with false-nines with [Lionel] Messi, I played with false-nine with [Robert] Lewandowski, I played that way with Sergio Agüero and here with Phil Foden and now with Erling we cannot play that way because he is too good."

Of course, Haaland's arrival required a tactical change, including who should do defensive duties.

"I always try to organise the team to allow him to run as less as possible. He is so big and cannot play 90 minutes every three days and make the big actions. I don't want that.

"I always think of the teams every three days and manage to control the ball through the passes and can handle the game the way you want to, you survive. Less injuries also.

"But when that is not possible, he has to help us and he is helping us."

There was also praise for Haaland's attitude.

""It is difficult to find a real, real world-class player that is incredibly humble and thinks what is the best for the team.

"It is difficult to find. When a player has this kind of ability and the talent and generosity and kindness, whatever you want to say and Erling is like that.

"Normally a striker just thinks of goals, goals, goals. Of course he has to score goals, that is obviously clear. But he signed a contract for 10 years and the more he is involved in many things will be better for him and the club."

Guardiola was also asked about his team's preparation for the second iteration of the Champions League league phase. Last year, the Citizens scraped through in 22nd place – ahead of the drop zone by goal difference.

"Maybe I have not been clear enough like I have said a thousand, million times," the manager said in a spiky reply.

"It is not about being not prepared last season. Last season we were injured. Fifty-percent of the squad were injured during months and months and especially during that period when there are a lot of games.

"Of course we are prepared for the format and for the old one. We will be ready. It is just last season, we had a lot of problems in terms of not having players and that was more difficult."