Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 08:57• Wessel Antes

Josep Guardiola has responded to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s statements, which Erling Braut Haaland is talking to Canal Plus recently warned of the Spanish manager’s ego. The two have maintained a cold relationship since their time at Barcelona. The Swedish superstar couldn’t resist speaking negatively about his former coach again, but Guardiola will not let himself be provoked.

AC Milan superstar Ibrahimovic is very impressed with Manchester City striker Haaland. “I like Haaland very much and think he is a very intelligent player. You’ll never see him do things he can’t do. For example, he never lowers himself to retrieve the ball. Haaland waits in front of the goal and finishes everything there.” Still, Ibrahimovic questions whether playing football under Guardiola is good for the 22-year-old Norwegian.

“It will depend on Guardiola’s ego and whether he is willing to make Haaland bigger than him. In my case, he didn’t want that to happen and in several others,” said Ibrahimovic. The start of Haaland under Guardiola is in any case excellent: after sixteen games for the Citizens he stands on 22 goals and three assists.

For that reason, Guardiola probably did not think it necessary to react strongly. Instead, he made a rather sarcastic response during the pre-match press conference for the game against Fulham. “He is absolutely right. In this club and in this team, my ego is bigger than the performance of my players. I don’t like it when Erling scores three times and gets all the attention. I am so jealous. I said to him: please Erling, stop scoring. Otherwise they won’t talk about me. Zlatan is right, he knows me perfectly.”