Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has described Erling Haaland as a ‘unique and special’ person and footballer.
“It’s unbelievable how many goals he has scored and all the important goals he has scored to help us win games and all the things like that… he is a unique person,” he said.
“Player of course, but the person is also so special. It was nice – he deserves the guard of honour we have done for him because of his incredible milestone.
“Maybe one he will break his record or another player will break his record, but he would have to score a lot of goals.”
Nathan Ake reaffirmed how ‘humble’ Erling Haaland had remained throughout the season in the face of achievements that any player in history would be proud of.”
Ake, who had given City the lead on the night, added that he hoped he was not done with finding the back of the net for the season.
He deserves everything he gets, he works so hard, he’s a top player, he stays so humble,’ he said. ‘Hopefully he can score even more. We have to keep on pushing, Leeds on Saturday will be tough.’
Meanwhile, praise for him was not scarce on social media.
Shearer, whose record of 34 goals in the 1994-95 campaign, a feat shared with Cole who notched the same number the season prior, Haaland broke said he couldn’t have wished it to happen to a ‘nicer guy’.
“Couldn’t have wanted it to go to a nicer guy,’ he said. It’s only taken 28 years! He’s the best.”
His social media post came in response to his Match of the Day colleague jokingly offering his condolences to Shearer.
“A Premier League record for Erling Haaland. 35 goals. That’s nuts,” he wrote. “Thoughts are with Alan Shearer at this difficult time.”
It marks yet another achievement in a remarkable first campaign in England for Haaland, who has scored a half-century of goals in all competitions for City this season, becoming the first player to do in England in just under 100 years.
Meanwhile, underlining his attitude that the team comes first and personal accolades a very lowly second, the Norwegian said that the treble was the ultimate prize.
“Yes, yes [would swap goals for the treble]. It’s the most important thing,” he said. “Everyone knows it’s possible but we can’t think of the FA Cup final now. We just have to think of Leeds.
Every one of the last nine games now is a cup final.”