Prolific Haaland close to goal milestone for Man City and Guardiola expects striker to get better

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — With Erling Haaland on the verge of an extraordinarily quick scoring milestone, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola knows he cannot expect too much more from his star striker.

Guardiola doesn’t think he’ll need to.

“The experience of playing game after game, they will improve,” Guardiola said of Haaland’s scoring numbers.

The Norway international has 99 goals in 103 games for City since joining in the summer of 2022.

No. 100 could come against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday.

“The more games he plays for this club, he will be a better player," Guardiola said. "And in a natural way. Not because we did something special or he practices something special, just a natural way.”

Haaland scored 52 times in 53 games in all competitions in his first season after arriving from Borussia Dortmund. That amazed Guardiola, because he said Haaland had muscular problems in the first few months and he “struggled a bit.”

This season, Guardiola continued, Haaland is free of injury and mentally fresh after having the summer off because Norway didn’t qualify for the European Championship.

By following up back-to-back hat tricks with two goals against Brentford in a 2-1 win in the English Premier League on Saturday, Haaland has nine goals in his opening four games of the season.

“I don’t expect every single game he scores three, two, three, two goals,” Guardiola said. “The moment it happens, it’s not a problem because I know the quality is there.

“But the difference to last season is he’s good, no problems, and when a player has that feeling, he can perform his best.”

Wednesday's match is a repeat of the 2023 Champions League final, which City won 1-0 — thanks to a second-half goal from Rodri — to become European champion for the first time.

Guardiola said he watched the game back for the first time on Monday but won't use it as a motivational tool for his players.

“About the inspiration and emotions, I'm so cold on that,” he said. “This is the first of eight games in the group stage. Tactically we just need to be present.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppel)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola attends a press conference at the City Football Academy in Manchester, England, Tuesday Sept. 17, 2024. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland kicks the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppel)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland gives instructions to his players during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppel)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland looks during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppel)

PARIS (AP) — It took a huge blunder to gift Paris Saint-Germain victory in the first Champions League match of its post-galactico era.

PSG scraped a 1-0 home win over tournament newcomer Girona on Wednesday with a stoppage-time goal, which came when goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga let a left-wing cross from Nuno Mendes trickle under his hands and through his legs.

For the first time in more than a decade, PSG began its Champions League campaign without at least one star player, known in soccer as a “galactico.”

But after the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi came and went without winning Europe's elite club competition, PSG started this campaign with a new identity based on more French players and greater teamwork.

It was also PSG’s first Champions League game without Mbappé for seven years after France’s star joined Real Madrid, scoring for his new club on Tuesday.

Mbappé was reproached by his critics for not tracking back or closing down enough when he played up front for PSG.

Yet PSG coach Luis Enrique could he heard shouting when his players failed to close down properly and, at one point, Girona kept the ball for 2 1/2 minutes with PSG's ball-watching players chasing aimlessly.

After 34 minutes, whistles could be heard from the crowd at a subdued Parc des Princes. Aside from half-chances from midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery and Marco Asensio, who went off injured late in the first half with an apparent hamstring injury, there was scant attacking play.

Furthermore, against a Girona side that lost several key players from last season, including striker Artem Dovbyk, winger Savinho and right back Yan Couto.

Girona defender Ladislav Krejčí made a brilliant tackle on Ousmane Dembélé after the PSG attacker went clean through on goal in the first half.

But with moments left, Gazzaniga's howler spared PSG.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

PSG's head coach Luis Enrique reacts during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Girona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

PSG players leave the pitch after they won the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Girona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

PSG players celebrate after a goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Girona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

PSG players celebrate after a goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Girona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

PSG players celebrate after a goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Girona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)