Erling Haaland, the striker for Manchester City, has acknowledged that Pep Guardiola’s coaching style can be “intense” due to his high expectations. However, Haaland maintains that their working relationship is “very positive.”

Last season, Haaland made an impressive impact by scoring 56 goals for City, setting numerous records. He kicked off the 2023/24 Premier League season with a strong performance, netting twice in the first 36 minutes of the opening match against Burnley. Nevertheless, during halftime, as Haaland exited the field, Guardiola publicly expressed his displeasure with the player’s performance.

Guardiola was visibly animated while providing instructions to Haaland as they headed towards the Turf Moor dressing rooms at halftime. He even forcefully moved a television camera aside upon realizing that their exchange was being filmed.

This incident drew criticism from pundits, with some suggesting that Guardiola should have chosen a more private setting to address the matter.

Gary Neville, commenting on Sky Sports, offered his perspective: “Some may appreciate the intensity of such coaching and argue that it’s a part of why he’s considered the best manager in the world. Others may contend that such conversations should be held privately, without grabbing a player’s arm in front of the cameras.”

Alan Shearer shared a similar sentiment on BBC Match of the Day the following night, stating, “If he didn’t want the cameras to capture it, he could have waited until they were in the dressing room. I wouldn’t have appreciated that. I’d have told him to talk to me in the dressing room and give me a thorough dressing down, but not in front of the audience like that.”