Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland set to face press
Manchester City v FC Copenhagen - Wed 8pm
ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/3/5/e3141c41-e89c-45be-abb5-57718cd72276.jpg
ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/3/5/cc65db8b-c2fa-4b54-a457-a2b17e5201de.jpg
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland also faced the press before the team's Champions League match tomorrow night.
He was first asked about his motivation after winning : "You can think about it in two ways, one thing I came here and won it. The other thing I am 23 I have a taste of winning. When I feel this I want to win it again."
On losing trophies to Messi: "He won it and he won the World Cup, he is the best that has ever played I think."
And on playing Liverpool: "I haven't thought of that game until you asked me now, I am focused on Copenhagen, It's going to be a huge game against Liverpool. We have to be ready for the game, we have to be brave and play at our best."
Haaland was asked about people talking about his misses more than his goals: "Last year I got 36 goals and I was the top scorer. This season's top scorer has 18 goals so you can think about it two ways if it has been a good season or not for me. I think we are doing pretty good as a team, that is my main focus of course. I have been missing, I have missed a lot of chances. I will probably miss a big chance in the future, people will criticise me. Should I think about that? No."
And on life in Manchester: "I enjoy life with my closest ones and I enjoy it."
On his mental strength: "It's been a challenge for me when I was young. I could start crying if we lost and I missed a lot of chances so I have been working on it a lot. It has been a challenge, I think because I demand a lot for myself and I know my team-mates and manager demand a lot from me. It is something to work on.
Haaland was next asked about how his injury affected him as a person, he replied: "It was hard because you get used to something and suddenly you don't know what to do. You have to focus on training. It's about trying to find positive things in life, life is beautiful I have a lot of beautiful people around me."
And he was also asked about Rasmus Hojlund: "His start was a bit hard, he has got much better and when we played them he was good. He is young, like me, I am not the youngest anymore but still young. He has to keep on developing as a striker for Manchester United you have to score goals as well."
Haaland added on his instructions from Pep Guardiola in the team on his build-up play: "I don't want to say too much on this because it is our tactic but I do what he says. I try to get involved when I should. There are a lot of things I can get better at, people say I am good at scoring goals but I missed the biggest chance ever two days ago so I can become better at that."
And on his future at Manchester City amid Real Madrid links: "I am really happy, especially with the people that I am surrounded with. The manager, the directors, the board, they are a group of a people. I am really happy. If I say this now it will probably be a massive headline, you never know what the future brings but I am happy."
He was also asked if he has thought about signing a new City deal: "I focus on the pitch, there is a lot of games. I think I should focus on that."
Haaland was asked about his relationship with FC Copenhagen after training with them in his early career: "I was on a trial with them in 2016, I think a couple of guys at the club wanted me but not all of them so it didn't happen. Sad for them. But maybe good for me as I went to Malta and it was a good choice. I like the club, it is nice club as well."
And on if he was interested in joining FC Copenhagen in 2016: "Yeah I was interested. Obviously was to join the U19s then, I was interested. That is why I went there. I even got a shirt, number nine with Haaland, I think I still have it at home. But my destiny was another way."
Finally he was asked about facing the club tomorrow: "It's a challenge. Look at what they did in the group games, they made it really difficult. I like the challenge, I like the Champions League and meet different teams and go to different countries."
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on how quickly Erling Haaland settled in at the club: "Erling it was so quick. The guys really embrace the new ones, but the news ones have to do the step depending on who they are. He was smiling. What impressed the most on the pitch was his character. The bigger star they are the more humble they are. I don't know why but it happened at Barcelona. Normally the big ones understand better."