Guardiola reveals the only situation Haaland cannot score

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed the only situation in which record-breaking Erling Haaland cannot score goals.

The Norwegian – with his 35th league goal against West Ham on Wednesday - moved clear of Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole to become the first star to hit that record in the Premier League’s era. The striker could move further ahead given that there are still five games to go.

While praising the centre-forward, Guardiola revealed the only moment he may not find the back of the net.

"Immediately, we saw that when you provide him with the ball, he can score goals," Guardiola told Sky Sports after the game.

"He can score all different situations except free-kicks - maybe in the future. But penalties, crosses, combinations, and transitions. He is a guy who can do many, many things. That is why he scores a lot of goals."

Haaland was given a guard of honour after breaking the record, and Guardiola said the celebration had been planned before.

"Of course, we thought about that," the Spaniard said. "In football, when there is a special occasion, we have to show how special it is. To score more than Alan Shearer and Andy Cole, the top strikers, it is special.

"I think he deserves it. All the team deserves it because, without the team, he could not do it, but he is a special striker. We are very pleased for him because it is a joy to be with him, to work with him, and to manage him. We are happy to have him with us."

Despite earlier criticism on Haaland, Guardiola is elated that the City’s talisman has proved critics wrong.

"Of course, this record will be broken sooner or later. Maybe by him in the future, maybe by others. But they will have to score a lot of goals because he has scored a lot," he concluded.

"I remember when we lost against Liverpool in the Community Shield and it was, 'He will not adapt to the Premier League.' You sometimes encourage as journalists incredible comments in advance that even ourselves, we do not know what is going to happen."

This win helped City restore their one-point lead at the top with a game in hand.