Pep Guardiola hails ‘incredible’ Erling Haaland after Man City striker scored a brace in comeback win over Brentford just days after the death of close friend

Pep Guardiola praised the togetherness of Manchester City‘s dressing-room for helping match-winner Erling Haaland play through the pain of bereavement.

Haaland was given the option of missing Saturday’s game against Brentford following the death of close family friend ‘Uncle’ Ivar Eggja but the Norwegian chose to start and scored twice in City’s 2-1 win.

‘He said on Friday he wanted to play,’ confirmed Guardiola. ‘Of course it’s been tough, he’s a human being, but in the locker room we try to take care of each other and everyone here.

‘We were in touch how about he was feeling and if he wasn’t ready he would come to me.

‘It is the best way sometimes to go and do the job which he’s been doing it perfectly for many years.

Haaland (right) recently lost family friend Ivar Eggja (left), who died at the age of 59

‘You have to be strong, maybe for 90 minutes forget your personal life if life gives you a punch in the face.’

Jack Grealish added about Haaland’s second in which he shrugged off Ethan Pinnock in a foot race before beating goalkeeper Mark Flekken: ‘The second showed what he is all about. He used his body well and a brilliant finish.’

After Yoane Wisa had scored for Brentford after 22 seconds, Haaland struck twice before the interval to take his season’s tally to nine goals in four games, though he was denied a third consecutive hat-trick by the woodwork.

‘He’s an incredible weapon, one vs one. We have to explode and use it,’ said Guardiola. ‘I would say this is the best he’s been. I only look at the table seriously after ten or 12 games but it’s better to have the points for sure.’

Brentford could have been 3-0 up in the opening 20 minutes with Guardiola saying; ‘They are really good and we were lucky to be 2-1 up. Everyone said afterwards that we suffered.’

Guardiola claims the Norwegian striker’s form is ‘the best’ he has been after another win 

‘Thomas Frank is one of the best managers. It is a question of time (before he goes to a bigger club). They will get a good manager.’

Frank, the last visiting manager to win at The Etihad in 2022, was proud of his team’s efforts at a repeat.

‘If City are the best team in the world, we were world-class for the opening 25 minutes,’ he said. ‘And if Kevin De Bruyne is running to the corner in the last minutes, I have to be 50-50 between being frustrated but on the other hand extremely proud of what we have done.’