Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has explained why he chose to substitute Erling Haaland following their 7-0 obliteration of RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The Sky Blues slotted seven goals past the Bundesliga side to progress to the quarter-finals of the one competition that has eluded Pep since he arrived in Manchester, with Haaland grabbing a first-half hattrick and then another two all in the space of 35 minutes. Sheesh.
Even before finishing five, Haaland’s hattrick saw him break the record for the youngest player to reach 30 goals in the Champions League (22 years, 236 days), beating fellow young phenomenon Kylian Mbappe by 116 days. However, his manager chose to sub him off before he could reach another.
Speaking to media afterwards, Pep explained that beyond giving him a rest or making sure he didn’t pick an unnecessary injury, he chose to withdraw Haaland because the game was over and he wanted “[them] to play”, as well to avoid any unreasonable criticism given the ridiculous bar he has set himself.
'The problem is every time we don't score 2 or 3 goals, Haaland will be criticised!' | Pep Guardiola
The 52-year-old went on to explain that while his numerous hattricks this season and now five goals in one game are obviously thrilling, “the problem is every time we don’t score two or three he will be criticised. This is the reality.”, insists Pep.
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Unfortunately for City fans and neutrals alike watching on in disbelief, if Haaland had stayed on and scored just one more — a double hattrick (silly that they were even considering these phrases) — he would have beaten Lionel Messi and Luiz Adriano’s record for most goals in a single UCL match.
Alas, it wasn’t to be and while many joked that the Spaniard was protecting Messi‘s record by not letting his star man score six (Pep insisting he had no idea of the stat), even he quipped that “if he achieves this milestone at 22, 23, it will be boring his life. He wouldn’t have a target to reach in the future.”
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The goals began to dry up after the Norwegian number nine was hooked off and one thing’s for sure, he certainly didn’t want to be taken off, noting to BT Sport that he told Pep when he went off, “I would love to score a double hattrick, but what can we do? I have to go”.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 14, 2023
Ah well, he still managed to reach multiple milestones on the night. As well as becoming the youngest to reach 30 UCL goals, he also did it in the fewest amount of games in history (25), beating Ruud van Nistelrooy who did it in 30.
As if that wasn’t enough, his fifth goal also saw him well surpass Tommy Johnson for the most goals scored by a City player in a single season (38), not to mention the only player to ever score that amount in the Champions League for the club and just third player to ever do so in the tournament.
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Truly unbelievable stuff.
Now on 39 goals and five assists in just 36 games across all competition this season, our early season prediction of Haaland scoring more than 50 goals now seems almost too conservative. The better question is how many records will he end up breaking before the year is out?
Man City now progress into the Champions League quarter-final yet again with the draw set for 11am on Friday, 17 March. They could face any one of the following teams:
Chelsea
Benfica
Milan
Bayern Munich
Inter
Napoli/Frankfurt
Real Madrid/Liverpool
Guardiola was once again asked if he thinks his side can finally win their first Champions League, having admitted earlier in the week that he will be judged by many “as a failure” if he does not win it.
In a rather unusual moment, Pep said that even winning wouldn’t make up for the time his “idol” Julia Roberts came to Manchester and watched United over City in 2016. Guess he’s just a really big Pretty Woman fan?…
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"She was my idol" 😔
Pep Guardiola says even a Champions League win with Man City wouldn't make up for being snubbed by Julia Roberts 😅#BBCFootballpic.twitter.com/IggEna2XcW
A ‘legacy walk’ in memory of the Joe Thompson is taking place across Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
The ‘Walk With Me for JT’, a.k.a Joe Thompson ‘Legacy Walk’, is back next month, and Greater Mancunians are being encouraged to take part.
Returning this year following his tragic passing last April, the now annual charity walk has already raised thousands for charity and is set for another big turnout.
Joe Thompson, an ex-Rochdale AFC and Bury FC player, sadly died at just 36 following a long battle with lymphoma, having been diagnosed three different times in 12 years.
While the young husband and father of two’s story is a heartbreaking one, it has also become a source of inspiration for so many across the North West and, indeed, across the UK, with people once again gearing up to complete a fundraising walk in his name.
Set to honour him by making the journey from his adopted home of Rochdale all the way to Old Trafford, with Thompson having come through Man United’s youth academy, the 15-mile trek will start at his former club’s Crown Oil Arena and stop at Bury’s Gigg Lane as well as Salford City’s Peninsula Stadium.
First held in 2024 under the ‘Walk With Me for JT’ banner, the initial legacy walk saw the Bath-born footballer and countless others complete 21 miles in an effort to raise money for treatment.
Gone but never forgotten, the charity walk survives not only in the hearts and souls of his family, friends and other people’s lives he touched, but in the community spirit that his struggle and immense bravery in the face of illness helped spur on throughout the region and beyond.
Writing on social media, the Thompson family and the Foundation in his memory said, “Last year, he walked beside us. This year, we walk for him. This isn’t just a walk… It’s a promise. A promise to carry his strength, his belief, his light forward.
For every family facing illness. For everyone experiencing loss or hardship. For anyone who needs hope right now. Every step matters. Every mile has meaning. Whether you’ve walked before or this is your first time. You won’t walk alone.”
Join the annual Joe Thompson legacy walk on Saturday 2nd May 💙
Departing from the Crown Oil Arena, the 15-mile walk will finish at Manchester United's Old Trafford 🏟️
They signed off by adding: “Be part of something bigger. Be part of Joe’s legacy. Be part of the movement. Get a team together, invite your friends, colleagues and family and let’s raise funds to support The Joe Thompson Foundation.”
With the event beginning at 11am on Saturday, 2 May, there have already been numerous sign-ups, and you can expect even more to lace up their shoes and pay tribute to a local hero.
If you want to join in the effort and help do your bit, you can register for the 2026 Joe Thompson Legacy Walk right HERE.
Tom Aspinall, Eddie Hearn, Frank Smith and more set to join latest Fight Day 5k in Manchester
Danny Jones
Big names from the world of combat sports are returning to town, not just for the next boxing match happening in Greater Manchester, but for the now regular Fight Day 5k alongside it.
Organised with promoters Matchroom Boxing, local club Manchester Road Runners (MRR), along with a number of other sponsors like Everlast, they’re hoping to make this one of their biggest yet.
Plus, with the likes of Manc MMA star Tom Aspinall in tow and Eddie Hearn himself set to lead the route around central Manchester, there’s just as much reason to be excited by the morning run as there is the next fight.
This event has happened multiple times in 0161 before, but with more people expected to turn up than ever and a homegrown fighter following up later in the day, this one feels extra special.
Scheduled fresh on Good Friday, 3 April (after all, fighters get up earlier than most), the 5k jog around the city centre will be hosted from House of Social – who have been teaming up with MRR for weekly running events since last November – and a whole host of other familiar names are due to join in.
Better still, there’ll be lots of fun to be had later on too, with participants encouraged not only to turn up early and soak up the atmosphere, but to stick around afterwards for a chance to meet Matchroom talents, as well as enjoy a thoroughly deserved post-run drink and chill.
Plus, in case you haven’t tried it before, the scran at House of Social is top-notch and well worth a try.
This latest Fight Day 5k is, of course, being hosted ahead of Sale-born rising star Pat Brown taking on Vasil Ducar on Friday night.
Facing off against the Czech fighter at the Planet Ice arena in Altrincham, the native Team GB boxer couldn’t have put things plainer in his pre-match presser…
So much for trash-talk: he just told everyone how it is.
This will be just the 26-year-old’s sixth fight as a pro, but having won all of his first five fights last year by knockout, we have a sneaking suspicion 2026 is going to be his year.
In terms of his opponent, Ducar is a much more experienced challenge than he’s ever faced before, with a record of 19-7-2 – 14 of those wins also being KOs.
There are still tickets left for the fight, which will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN from 7pm (ringwalks at approximately 9:39pm), and for those of you who want to join in with the partnered Fight Day 5k, you can sign up completely free right HERE.
Danny Jones -
15th March 2023 
