Pep Guardiola insists he puts ‘no pressure’ on Erling Haaland to score goals – after watching the Norwegian add to his unbelievable tally against Young Boys in the Champions League

• Erling Haaland’s brace took his tally in all competitions to 11 goals from 14 games
• City maintained a perfect start to the defence of their Champions League crown 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ 

Pep Guardiola claimed there is no pressure on Erling Haaland to score more goals after the Norwegian’s double sank Young Boys on Wednesday.

Haaland struck twice in the second half as the holders claimed a hard-fought 3-1 win over the Swiss side in their Champions League Group G encounter on the artificial surface at Bern’s Wankdorf Stadium.

The game had been in the balance after Meschack Elia had cancelled out Switzerland international Manuel Akanji’s opener with a superb strike.

Haaland’s goals were his first in six Champions League games while his effort against Brighton on Saturday ended a three-game scoreless run – relative barren spells for a player who plundered 52 in total last season.

Guardiola said: ‘There is the impression after last season that he has to score seven goals every single game. That is impossible.

City boss  Pep Guardiola claimed there is no pressure on Erling Haaland to score more goals 

Haaland struck twice in the second half as the holders claimed a 3-1 win over Young Boys

Switzerland international Manuel Akanji bagged the other goal at the Wankdorf Stadium

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‘But he is scoring a lot of goals and if people want him to fail because he doesn’t score 50 goals it doesn’t matter. He is always there.

‘The second goal was really good and he had other chances. The important thing is to create them.

‘Maybe in the right moment of the season he will be there, better than now, but he has already scored a lot of goals and we are really pleased.

‘I’ve told him many times I don’t judge him for scoring goals, although I know he wants to score goals. He has the desire to improve and I don’t have doubts about that.’

City’s victory, sealed with a Haaland penalty and a clever late finish, was their third in succession and took them a step closer to the knockout stages.

They could reach the last-16 for an 11th consecutive season with a follow-up win over the same opposition at the Etihad Stadium in a fortnight.

‘The result was good and in general it was a really good performance,’ said Guardiola, whose side had 26 attempts on goal. ‘We could have scored more goals but is the important thing is to create the chances.’

Guardiola commended his team’s performance and the result that sees them maintain a perfect start to the defence of their Champions League crown

Young Boys coach Raphael Wicky (pictured) felt his side gave a good account of themselves

Guardiola added that Phil Foden did not play because of a ‘small problem’ while Julian Alvarez, who had a goal disallowed after coming off the bench, was not able to play the full game.

Young Boys coach Raphael Wicky felt his side gave a good account of themselves.

He said: ‘That courage and passion, we can be proud of what the team delivered, but you need a perfect game against a team like this. We couldn’t do it.

‘Perfect means taking your chances and not conceding from set-pieces. We’re disappointed with the result, but we can be proud of the team’s performance.’

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