'I substituted Haaland so he doesn't break Messi's record'

BeSoccer 2 years ago 10.1k
Haaland scored his sixth hat-trick of the season against Burnley. AFP

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola joked after the game against Burnley. The Spanish coach said he replaced Haaland when he scored a hat-trick in the FA Cup to avoid overtaking Leo Messi.

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany endured a nightmare return to Manchester City on Saturday as Erling Haaland scored his sixth hat-trick of the season in a 6-0 rout that sent Pep Guardiola's men into the FA Cup semi-finals.

Moreover, the Norwegian also scored five goals against RB Leipzig in the Champions League and his coach joked after Saturday's match

"I substituted him so he doesn’t break Messi’s record in the FA Cup," he said.

Guardiola replaced the 22-year-old when they qualified for the next round of the Champions League and he said: "If he achieved this milestone at 22, 23 years old, it will be boring, his life. Now he has a target, that’s why I make the substitution."

Mentioned in the news story

E. Haaland
Manchester City
L. Messi