Guardiola Claims Haaland Can Improve

Despite the Norwegian became the player to achieve 20 goals in the Premier League's history the fastest during his team's 3-1 victory over Leeds United, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola feels Erling Haaland is not at his best and can improve even more.

With two second-half goals on Wednesday at Elland Road, Haaland continued his phenomenal goal-scoring run and now has 20 goals from just 14 appearances, seven games faster than the next player to achieve that mark. The Norwegian international has scored 26 goals in 20 games for City under Guardiola, the fastest pace of any player to 25 goals with top-flight clubs.

"He missed chances, hopefully he can do better," Guardiola said. "But the numbers are exceptional, he is an incredible threat for us and always in the right position at the right time.

"I have the feeling he is not at his best. It is a matter of time. Of course we are delighted but that little pace he had at the beginning of the season, now he maybe struggles a little bit, but it's a question of time. "I am still more than satisfied but I had the feeling in the first part of the season he was sharper."

The fact that Norway did not participate in the World Cup in Qatar gave Haaland plenty of time to consider his options, which, according to the 22-year-old, only served to fuel his desire for more. "I've been at home, a bit mad that I've not been at the World Cup," he told Amazon.

"I recharged my batteries. "Watching other people score to win games at the World Cup triggered, motivated and irritated me. I'm more hungry and more ready than ever."

Given that Haaland was born in Leeds, where his father Alfie played for the Yorkshire club, and that Leeds manager Jesse Marsch previously served as his coach at RB Salzburg, his performances at Elland Road would have been especially sweet.

Marsch had nothing but positive things to say about Haaland on another record-breaking night, despite the fact that he watched his former striker leave Leeds with the club only two points above the Premier League relegation zone.

"I am just really happy for him," Marsch said. "In some ways watching him score is painful, I want him in a different kit. " But when you know some of these young men, and you see their qualities as people, you want them to do their best, just not against your team. "But my gosh I am happy for him, he is such a great person."