Manchester City's manager Pep Guardiola spoke to the press ahead of their upcoming Premier League match against Luton, where he also discussed the recent Champions League match in Madrid.
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Guardiola previewed another round of the Premier League on Friday, with Luton as Manchester City's opponent, and revisited the discussion about the recent match in Madrid.
The spotlight was once again on Erling Haaland after the team's three-all draw in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. Critics had been sharp about Haaland's performance, which prompted Guardiola to defend his player during the press conference.
"He is a young player, he has room to improve, but it's more a matter of the team than him. He wasn't involved? We scored three goals, he had two defenders close by, and it's not easy. It's the toughest position on the field. Two against one. They were very united and are great defenders," Guardiola explained, emphasizing the collective nature of football and the specific challenges faced by Haaland during the game.
The Spanish coach also addressed questions about Haaland's prospects of winning the Ballon d'Or. "He needs to play more minutes, learn. But the goal is not the Ballon d'Or, the goal is to win trophies and he has succeeded. Would we have won five trophies last year without him?" Guardiola posed the rhetorical question, highlighting the forward's contribution to the team's success and shifting the focus from individual awards to team achievements.
Furthermore, there was concern over the availability of Phil Foden, another key player for Manchester City. Foden's participation in the upcoming games was uncertain due to fitness issues. "I would like to have him, but I haven't spoken with the doctors. After the press conference, we have a meeting and we will see," Guardiola noted, leaving Foden's status in question until further assessments could be made.
The session ended with Guardiola expressing confidence in his squad's abilities and depth, underscoring the importance of every player in the team’s strategy as they prepare to face Luton in what promises to be a challenging Premier League match.
