{"id":95552,"date":"2023-11-03T15:24:12","date_gmt":"2023-11-03T15:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/?p=95552"},"modified":"2023-11-03T15:24:12","modified_gmt":"2023-11-03T15:24:12","slug":"guardiola-says-haaland-was-really-pleased-to-compete-for-ballon-dor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/soccer\/guardiola-says-haaland-was-really-pleased-to-compete-for-ballon-dor\/","title":{"rendered":"Guardiola says Haaland was 'really pleased' to compete for Ballon d'Or"},"content":{"rendered":"
Pep Guardiola said that Erling Haaland was ‘really pleased’ to come second in the Ballon d’Or\u00a0race – despite many thinking he was a deserving winner.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 52-goal striker was tipped by many to pick up the award after firing City to the Treble but Messi won out after his World Cup triumph.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Guardiola was asked if the competition was all just a popularity contest ahead of Man City’s match against Bournemouth on Saturday.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said: ‘I would say that I saw him so happy to be a contender close with Messi and Mbappe. It was a good night for Man City.<\/p>\n
‘Big congratulations to Leo Messi and Aitana Bonmati. It’s so important for us because we have not been there many times. For the first time we were important being there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Pep Guardiola said that Erling Haaland was ‘really pleased’ to come second in the Ballon d’Or\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Haaland won the Gerd Muller Trophy for Best Striker but finished second in the Ballon d’Or\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘He has his whole career ahead of him and he can say “okay, maybe next season”. He was really pleased to be there.’<\/p>\n
Guardiola also spoke about the impact of Jeremy Doku.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The young winger has scored three and assisted twice since signing from Rennes in the summer.<\/p>\n
Guardiola said: ‘He is so young, he listens, he improves. He realises what we suggest and it carries out immediately.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘His impact has been really really good. From the beginning, the bench, his impact has been massive.’\u00a0<\/p>\n