Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola explains differences in coaching goalscoring 'machines' Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski

Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has highlighted the importance of Erling Haaland, who has scored 17 goals in 13 appearances this season. Across Guardiola's spells with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and at City, there has been a constant - he has had a world-class goalscorer to call upon. The Catalan was asked to draw comparisons between his past and present talismans.

Guardiola explains differences in managing Haaland, Messi and Lewandowski - 'All three are machines'

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Pep Guardiola said he is "lucky" to have been able to work with Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski and Lionel Messi in his coaching career thus far.

Haaland is the latest world-class attacking talent to be at Guardiola's disposal. The 25-year-old has scored 17 times in 13 club matches this season, and is seven goals clear at the summit of the Premier League's goalscoring charts.

But free-scoring forwards have been a regular feature in Guardiola's teams. In his four-year spell in charge of Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, he had eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi.

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Messi scored 211 goals across all competitions in the four years Guardiola was in charge, including a staggering 73-goal haul in the manager's final season at Camp Nou in 2011/12.

Guardiola then joined Bayern Munich, where he guided Lewandowski through some prolific years in Bavaria. The Poland international notched 95 goals in three seasons under Guardiola, tallying 42 in the 2015/16 season - Guardiola's last before joining City.

Following his brace in the 3-1 win against Bournemouth on Sunday, Haaland's figures now sit at 141 goals in 153 matches under Guardiola.

The 25-year-old City striker faces his former side, Borussia Dortmund, in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Asked to draw comparisons between the trio, Guardiola told TNT Sports: "All three are machines scoring goals.

"Messi, as a footballer, can drop, play in lower positions, deeper positions, and he can be more creative in the passes.

"Erling and Lewy are more finishers, I would say, more in the box. But to compare the numbers of all three are insane. That's why I was lucky, to have had all three."

'We need him a lot'

Of the 26 goals City have scored across the Premier League and Champions League this season, Haaland has scored 17.

Asked about critics that suggest City are reliant on Haaland, Guardiola replied: "They’re right. They are right. It is what it is.

"We have to try to have other players score goals, I'm not stupid enough to say that they score lots of goals, because we need him a lot. But always had the feeling that we grow up and in many situations other players will score goals."

Haaland, whose future at City was secured until 2034 when he signed a new contract in January, was elected among Guardiola's leadership group in the summer. Asked how he came to the decision, Guardiola laughed: "Because he signed a 10-year contract.

"That was the reason why, but not just that. We saw over time how kind and generous [he is]. He always wants to score goals, he is competitive at the same time. His importance to the team and his care with staff. That's why it's the best decision I’ve made."

Haaland has only seemed to grow with the added responsibility, but Guardiola said nothing has changed with the striker, noting his positive off-field demeanour.

Haaland: 'I knew I was going to perform at Man City' after 'studying' the team

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"He's the same guy I met when he arrived," Guardiola said. "Always a smile on his face, always trained good, always wants to play.

"He cannot be perfect all the time in four or five years and score two or three goals every time.

"Expectations are so high, but he handles it well. He has a good family, a good private life, takes care of himself. He knows when he made mistakes in the past and things he has improved."

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