Pep Guardiola: Haaland 'numbers unbelievable' but still not back to his best

Norwegian striker becomes the fastest player to reach 20 Premier League goals after his double for Manchester City in the 3-1 win at Leeds United

Erling Haaland (C) of Manchester City celebrates with teammates after scoring the 3-0 lead during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Manchester City in Leeds, Britain, 28 December 2022. EPA/Adam Vaughan EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club / league / player publications

Erling Haaland celebrates scoring City's third goal. Action Images

Pascal Struijk (second left) scores for Leeds. PA

Pascal Struijk celebrates scoring. Reuters

Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland (R) celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Manchester City's Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (C) and Manchester City's English midfielder Jack Grealish (L) during the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Manchester City at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 28, 2022. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

Erling Haaland celebrates scoring City's second goal with Kevin De Bruyne. AFP

City's Rodri celebrates scoring their first goal with Kevin De Bruyne and Manuel Akanji. Reuters

Manchester City's Erling Haaland in action. EPA

Leeds manager Jesse Marsch shouts instructions. Getty

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on the touchline. Reuters

Leeds' Rasmus Kristensen battles for possession with Jack Grealish of Manchester City. Getty

Jack Grealish tussles with Rasmus Kristensen. Reuters

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insisted Erling Haaland is not yet back to his "absolute best" after the Norwegian striker continued his remarkable debut Premier League season with two more goals in Wednesday's 3-1 win at Leeds United.

Haaland, 23, has been in sensational form since joining City from Borussia Dortmund in the summer and took his Premier League goal tally to 20 from just 15 appearances with his double at Elland Road, becoming the fastest player to reach the milestone. He has scored 26 goals in 20 games across all competitions.

Despite his unstoppable form, Guardiola is convinced Haaland still has another level to find as he continues to recover from an injury sustained in a Champions League game against former club Dortmund at the end of October.

Having missed the World Cup due to Norway's failure to qualify, Haaland spent the past few weeks resting and recovering, and was part of the City squad who enjoyed a training camp in Abu Dhabi.

“I still think he's still not back to his best, that was at the beginning of the season I would say but then the injury he had in Dortmund,” Guardiola said in his post-match press conference.

“When he started to train in Abu Dhabi he could not train every single day, maybe the last one. To move this huge body is not easy for him. But as much as he can play, with minutes he will be better. I have the feeling he is not at his best. It’s a question of time after the injury.

“But I had the feeling that he is always an incredible threat for the opponent. The numbers are unbelievable. I had the feeling he’s not coming here just for the numbers - we want to win it. Still we are far away from the team that has been exceptional so far.

“There are 70 points to play for and we have to have an incredible run, to win and win to be close to the top of the league.”

Leeds v Man City player ratings

While it was once again Haaland in the headlines, Guardiola was also pleased with the contribution of Jack Grealish. The England midfielder missed a couple of good chances in the first half against Leeds but responded by providing both assists for Haaland's goals.

“He was good,” Guardiola said. “In the first half he missed chances and has to improve on that. It’s just mentality and to be aggressive to score.

“He showed the quality to be generous. He’s incredibly loved by everyone. He’s so humble and they were perfect assists for Erling.”

Leeds manager Jesse Marsch had spoken before the game of the dangers Haaland posed, but ultimately his Leeds side were unable to contain the Norwegian. The American knows the striker well from their one year working together at Austrian side RB Salzburg.

"Haaland has an uncanny ability to know where to be to score goals and a hunger like I have never seen before," Marsch said. "It is infectious in the team. It is a desire that spreads through the team.

"I don't know whether Man City are my favourites for the league but Haaland is one of my favourite players to watch."