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Man City v Man Utd: Pictures
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has claimed Erling Haaland 'always looks starving' after the Norweigan's hat-trick against Manchester United on Sunday. Trebles from the 22-year-old and Phil Foden gave the reigning Premier League champions all three points. And it means they're now just a point behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
Haaland and Foden were both unstoppable as City ran riot against United, with the final scoreline actually flattering the Red Devils.
And Guardiola has now lauded the Norway international after the game, while also expressing a belief the 22-year-old ‘always looks starving’.
"It is. The numbers speak for himself. He has done this before here,” he said.
“It is not our way. Always we try to help him in our environment. We have this incredible sense that he always looks starving and is so competitive. The numbers are scary, honestly.
"He sees 10 players running without the ball with effort for each other so he wants to do it. They visualise it, they see it.
“It's why we have success in the last few years. Behind it is effort and desire to do it."
Man City star Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick against Man Utd on Sunday (Image: GETTY)
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Foden was also praised by his manager, with Guardiola saying: "His desire, how he runs, is the main thing.
“He deserves to play every time and then he has quality. He is a young player and it is a reality. He deserves everything.”
On his side’s overall performance, Guardiola admitted he wasn’t impressed as City conceded three goals in the second half.
He continued: ”It was really good [in the first half]. We scored four goals and could have scored more.
“After half-time it was more difficult. It was a great victory, a great game, everyone was happy in the stadium and we enjoy it against our rivals. It was a good afternoon for us.
Man City striker Erling Haaland looks unstoppable after blitzing Man Utd (Image: GETTY)
Erik ten Hag, meanwhile, lamented his side’s ‘lack of fight’ as they slumped to another disappointing defeat to their fierce rivals.
"It's quite simple, it's a lack of belief,” he said.
“When you don't believe on the pitch then you can't win games, that is unacceptable.
“We get undisciplined at following rules and you get hammered, that's happened today.
"For me it was a surprise. We were not on the front foot, we were not brave on the ball and there were spaces to play but we were not brave enough.
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"All the credit to City, but it's nothing to do with City, our performance was not good.
“It had to do with the belief as individuals and as team.
"From the first minute I felt it and at half-time we changed things and we changed attitude.
“We saw a different Manchester United after half-time and we scored goals, we created some more. On the ball we were more brave, we came in the opponent's half and we scored three goals.
"In this moment I can't think about positives. We let our fans down, we let ourselves down and we're hugely disappointed."