Jokso Gvardiol has told the media that it’s better to play with Erling Haaland than against him. Speaking before Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League Group G encounter with RB Leipzig the Croatian defender was full of praise for City’s number 9.
Manchester City’s Croatian defender faced off with City and Haaland twice last season. Gvardiol was part of the RB Leipzig side that the European champions beat 8-1 on aggregate en route to winning the UEFA Champions League last season. City dispatched RB Leipzig in the second round of the competition. The Croatian defender looked back at playing against Haaland and City. He told the media: “I’m happy to be his teammate. It wasn’t just about Haaland, it was the first XI on the pitch, it was a hard game. As a centre-back, I was looking forward to facing Haaland but it didn’t finish well. He scored five goals in 60 minutes. When I saw him getting subbed off I was happy.”
RB Leipzig held Manchester City to a 1-all draw in the first leg last season at the Red Bull arena. They were demolished 7-nil in the second leg at the Etihad with Erling Haaland scoring five goals before being substituted.
Gvardiol also added that he is in awe of what Haaland has achieved. The Croatian defender added: “Erling is… at the beginning of the game he is nowhere, then he turns up and scores a hattrick. What he’s done, I don’t understand how but I enjoy him.”
Erling Haaland has scored 18 goals in 19 appearances so far this season. He has scored 10 goals in his last 7 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side. He also scored his 50th Premier League against Liverpool on the weekend. Haaland is now the fastest player in Premier League history to reach the milestone.
Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland and their City teammates are next in action against RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League.
