Pep Guardiola warns Erling Haaland he WILL drop him… after being ‘surprised’ how good back-up Julian Alvarez is
PEP GUARDIOLA will not worry about benching strike sensation Erling Haaland — as he has an ‘exceptional’ forward to step in.
Manchester City’s £51.4million Norwegian, 22, has made all the headlines with six goals in his first four Prem matches.
But fellow new arrival Julian Alvarez has also caught the eye.
The former River Plate man had a hand in two goals off the bench in the 4-2 comeback win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
And the £14m ace also scored in the Community Shield loss to Liverpool, too.
Guardiola has previously said Haaland — who netted a hat-trick on Saturday — will not start every game.
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But Guardiola admits he and his staff did not expect Alvarez — who signed in January but did not join up with City until July — to be as talented as he is.
The City chief said: “I’ve seen clips of him at River Plate. But I’m surprised by how good he is.
“He’s so humble, positive and always in training he gives everything. I like these kind of players.
“Julian is an exceptional player. All of us are impressed about many things about him.”
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Tonight’s clash with Nottingham Forest is the first of five games in 15 days for the champions. And Alvarez, 22, seems certain to start at least one of them.
Guardiola said: “When Erling doesn’t play, Julian is going to play, almost for sure.
“He is so strong, fast and has an incredible sense of goal. He reads the game really well and he has a margin to improve but he is young.
“The most important thing is that he is open to help all the time. And when that happens, everything is going to happen in his career.”
Guardiola admits he has to be ruthless with rotation.
He added: “I don’t explain why I make my decisions, because I will not convince them.
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“Some players understand what they are part of — and some never will understand me.
“Some believe they have to play because I am who I am. And they are completely wrong.”