ERLING HAALAND has already shown that he is a “funny guy” in his short time at Manchester City.
But the Norwegian’s arrival in the Premier League is no laughing matter for defenders across the country – starting with Liverpool in the Community Shield final.
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The champions’ new £51.4 million signing has made his new team-mates chuckle since he switched from Borussia Dortmund this month.
And Etihad boss Pep Guardiola is happy with the way Haaland is so easily established.
The Spaniard said: “The first impression of him is really good, a funny guy.
“He’s handled it very well with the team. That’s important. Apparently people think it’s not one of the most important things, but it is.
“The good atmosphere in the dressing room is more important than any advice.
“We try to help him settle in well with the family, the house and try to get to know each other in training. Then quality does the rest.”
Guardiola then revealed that Haaland will be unleashed against the Reds in Saturday’s final.
Speaking about the Norwegian’s status, the City chief said: “He is ready to play. He feels good.
“When I spoke to him for the last few days, he felt a few small problems, but he can train and move.
“At the end of August he will be better than now. Now we have one game a week, with more training.
“[Haaland and Julian Alvarez] have the special feel, smell and quality to score a goal.
“If we play good football, create many chances, put the ball close to the penalty area…
“If we do that, we know that Erling and Julian have this incredible talent to score goals. But they won’t do it alone. We have to help them.”
Guardiola admits he hasn’t had a chance to have a beer with his new striker yet.
But if he can help beat old rivals Liverpool at the King Power Stadium today, he will surely be the toast of the dressing room.
Guardiola added: “I don’t see it all off the pitch. I don’t have a beer with them. But off the pitch, what I see in the cafeteria and hallways is good.
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“We’ve been incredibly lucky with the guys we’ve had in previous seasons, otherwise you won’t win titles, that’s for sure.
“The new guys are very well embraced by the guys who have been there from day one, that’s why it’s so easy.
“Fernandinho has left an incredible legacy on how to behave in the dressing room.”
Haaland’s new teammate John Stones had the daunting task of marking him when City met Dortmund 16 months ago in the Champions League.
And he has no doubts about the problems he will cause for defenders in England and Europe in the coming years.
The Three Lions centre-back said: “I think he will score goals. He’s such a presence, such a big kid.
“Physically he is very capable in every way and that is so difficult because he has speed, he has strength, his finishing with both feet, his threat from the air too.
“I played against him two seasons ago and he is causing problems. He is of course still so young and still has so much to go.
‘AN INCREDIBLE ADDITION’
“He is doing well here and he will have the opportunity to train with us, learn with us and of course bring his skills to our team.
“He’s an incredible asset to us as a team and I think he’s eager to go to be honest.”
Haaland is one of four new faces added to the City roster for the new season, along with Kalvin Phillips, Julian Alvarez and goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.
Guardiola doesn’t believe the new lads will take long to adjust and predicts a quick start to their career at City.
He added: “Hopefully they won’t need much time. The sooner they settle in, the better. I don’t think they will need time.
“Stefan surprises us a lot with what he can do and the other three guys, the way they settle in, they listen, they behave, in the few games they play I think they will start soon.
“Not just for Erling and Kalvin, for Steffen for Julian, the Community Shield is a title, of course we want to win it, better to start winning than losing. That’s good for City.”
Meanwhile, Guardiola praised his bosses for the work they’ve done in a summer that saw them make the biggest sale in Premier League history.
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City raked in £174 million over the end of the season with Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Oleksandr Zinchenko the biggest victims.
That makes it a record amount raised for a top club that beat the £166 million brought in by Chelsea five years earlier.
Guardiola said: “Congratulations for that. In part I’m a little sad that these important players have left, but it’s a business, it’s good for the club.
“In order to invest you have to sell players, otherwise you cannot be sustainable. Yet the image of the club is always: we buy, buy, buy.
“It’s good for the club. It’s part of the business. Everyone can sell, not everyone can do it, it’s hard to do it. It’s good for us.”
Perhaps it could mean that City can slightly increase the offer for a left-back by Brighton’s Marc Cucurella their main target?.
“We’ll see,” Guardiola smiled.
There’s plenty to laugh about at City right now.