Erling Haaland: Pep Guardiola praises the Manchester City forward as he aims for 100 goals for the club.

**Haaland’s Hat-Trick Sparks Guardiola’s Praise Ahead of Champions League Clash**

Erling Haaland was the star of the show at the Etihad Stadium as he celebrated scoring his team’s fourth goal and completing his hat-trick during Manchester City’s emphatic victory over Ipswich Town. The Norwegian striker’s performance has left a lasting impression on City manager Pep Guardiola, who remarked on the “huge” impact Haaland has made since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

As City gears up for their UEFA Champions League encounter against Internazionale on Wednesday, fans can catch the action live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Guardiola was quick to highlight Haaland’s influence on the squad. The Spaniard did not shy away from acknowledging the striker’s contributions, both on and off the pitch.

Haaland is now on the cusp of reaching a remarkable milestone, with 99 goals in just 103 appearances for the club that his father once represented. Guardiola expressed his admiration for the forward’s ability to adapt to the team’s style of play. “The impact has been huge, on and off the pitch, and especially inside the locker room,” he told TNT Sports. “The numbers are there, but not the influence in our game and how we can adapt to him. He is okay, and the numbers are there, so hopefully he can continue.”

While Haaland would have relished the opportunity to represent Norway at Euro 2024 this summer, Guardiola believes the time off has been beneficial for the striker. “He would love to be in an international competition for Norway,” Guardiola said. “I am pretty sure it is a dream for him, and he will do everything to try and achieve it. But yes, to have rest for one and a half months, to be recovered, not just for the physical, but the mental approach.”

In addition to Haaland’s exploits, Guardiola also expressed his delight at Rodri’s inclusion among the 30 nominees for the prestigious Ballon d’Or. The defensive midfielder has emerged as a serious contender for the award, and Guardiola was keen to share his support. “Absolutely, and hopefully he can win it. We would love it, and I would love it for him because he would deserve it,” he said. “We are used to Cristiano, Messi, Messi, Cristiano all the time. Sometimes another player, but hopefully he can win it.”

Looking ahead to the new format of the Champions League this season, Guardiola stressed the importance of maintaining a winning mentality, particularly in home matches. “Everything is new, but like the old format, you have to win games, and it is not that complicated,” he explained. “There are more games and a different qualification, but you have to win games.”

Guardiola reflected on the team’s past successes, noting that their strength at home has been crucial in qualifying from group stages. “In the past, when we were able to qualify from the group stages, it was because at home we were strong. We needed to play well at home, and we will have to do the same in this format. The games you have at home, you have to try to take them.”

As the Champions League campaign kicks off, Guardiola remains cautious yet optimistic. “It is just the first game of the group stage, and many things can happen, so you just have to analyse what you have to do. This competition is so nice, but there are a lot of games and a lot of setbacks. It is a question of relaxing and arriving in the moment of the game fresh and ready – this is what we have to do.”

With the Community Shield already in the bag and four consecutive Premier League victories under their belt, Guardiola acknowledged the positive momentum but reminded his players that there is still room for improvement. “We have been doing good things, but in the last game, Brentford were much better than us, so we just need to improve from that.”

As Manchester City prepares for their Champions League opener, all eyes will be on Haaland and his quest for that landmark 100th goal, with Guardiola’s faith in his star striker shining brightly.