“There should be one Ballon d’Or for Lionel Messi and one for everyone else”, Pep Guardiola joked earlier than endorsing his former participant and Erling Haaland for the award.
Messi recorded among the greatest years of his membership profession when the 2 labored collectively at Barcelona from 2008 to 2012, and the ahead lifted the World Cup as Argentina captain in Qatar final December.
Meanwhile Haaland scored 52 objectives in 53 video games in his debut season on the Etihad after becoming a member of from Dortmund within the 2022 summer time, as he helped City document a historic treble underneath Guardiola’s management.
“The Ballon d’Or should be two sections,” Guardiola mentioned. “One for Messi, and one for the other players. Haaland should win, yes, we won the treble and he scored 50, I don’t know, million goals. But of course, if you tell me the worst Messi season? That’s the best for the rest of the players. Both deserve it, what can I say?
“Egotistically I’d say Erling as a result of he helped us obtain what we achieved. I’d adore it. But if Leo wins, they received the World Cup. It’s good so many gamers from Man City shall be there for the primary time in a few years and difficult. That makes us so proud.”
Guardiola’s aspect, who’ve misplaced their final three video games in all competitions, welcome again Rodri for the go to of Brighton on Saturday following a three-game suspension.
The supervisor has repeatedly pointed to his midfielder’s affect in explaining City’s sudden drop in type, and took subject with the choice which noticed him banned when requested whether or not opponents could try to rile him in future.
“He’s so important,” he mentioned. “He will learn [from his red card]. There is two fouls for Rodri, where the referee didn’t apply the rules. Without that, he’s not sent off. It’s scandalous the foul he got, and they were not punished.
“After that, Rodri has to be taught. Even the errors we do and so they do, we have now to manage feelings, rise up and go. But I’m fairly certain he’ll be taught.”
City will have John Stones fit again after playing more than an hour in England’s win over Italy on Tuesday night.
Guardiola said he had been “involved” about the 29-year-old’s involvement in Gareth Southgate’s latest international squad after featuring for just 22 minutes in the Premier League this season due to a thigh injury, but praised the communication between the Football Association and City hierarchy in returning him to the Etihad in good health.
“We spoke with Gareth, we have now an unimaginable relationship,” he said. “We have been involved as a result of John did not play one minute within the final two months and when they’re solely simply recovering and go the nationwide staff you by no means know what’s going to occur.
“John has been an important figure for us, especially last season, and we couldn’t use him. It’s perfect that he got minutes, but what happened if he got injured?
“They mentioned they might maintain him, he would not play 90 minutes, and so they caught to it.
“We want players to go to their national teams. It’s perfect for them, they love to play for their countries and I’ve never said don’t do it to them.”
