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Manchester City

  1. Guardiola on Haaland's 'exceptional' deal, Foden's 'smile' and board backing

    Katie Stafford
    BBC Sport journalist

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Ipswich Town (kick-off 16:30 GMT).

    Here are the key lines from his news conference:

    • He said Erling Haaland's contract "is exceptional news for the club" and it is proof of trust between him and the club.

    • On why it is such a long deal: "He wants to show how much he wants to be here. He loves the club and the people he is around. He loves the Premier League and being here with his family. He must feel there is no better place for him in the next 10 years."

    • Guardiola is confident Haaland can still improve, adding: "The team have to create an environment and moments when he can be unstoppable as that is when he is at his best."

    • The City boss offered more on the striker and said: "He's making me a better manager."

    • In response to whether he will also be tempted to sign a contract of nine and-a-half years, Guardiola joked: "Next season if I'm still here I'll have done 10 years, so he has to beat me!"

    • Guardiola said the team will train and be assessed today but "some players finished with some problems - like in every game - so we will see."

    • He said Phil Foden's smile is back after scoring twice against Brentford in the week and added: "In the first part of the year I was a little concerned and he was a bit more down. Sometimes you need to breathe and come back."

    • On the board's backing: "The trust has always been there and in the last month or month and-a-half, in another environment I wouldn't still be here."

    • On Liam Delap, who is impressing at Ipswich, Guardiola said: "So many players have come from this academy. We thought he was a typical striker for the Premier League and he is doing really well. We are happy for him."

    Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

    Listen to live commentary of Ipswich v Manchester City on BBC Radio 5 Live from 16:30 GMT

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  3. Haaland deal 'helps dampen Man City negativity'

    Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown s The Football News Show's Ben Croucher to discuss Erling Haaland's new contract at Manchester City, that will see him remain at the club until 2034.

    Brown says it will enable the striker to focus purely on his football and explores how it will help City recruit new players.

    Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

  4. Erling Haaland

  5. 'A big statement out of nowhere'

    Mike Minay
    BBC Radio Manchester reporter

    Manchester City expert view banner
    Erling Haaland holds a Man City shirt with '2034' on the backManchester City FC

    This news seemed to come out of nowhere, but is a big statement from club and player.

    Erling Haaland has consistently broke records, but they have usually been goalscoring ones – this one sets a new bar for contract length. But after all, his love affair with the Blues dates back to when his dad was a player at Maine Road.

    He has sured expectations, quickly showing that yes, he can cut it in the English game. He has stayed largely injury free and has lived 24-7 for his profession, something Pep Guardiola ires.

    Maybe Real Madrid g Kylian Mbappe has had an influence as, apart from heading to the Bernabeu, you question where else he would go as as next step.

    He has decided the next step is closer to home.

    Short term, it is about correcting the form of City - and himself - this season.

    Medium term, it will be about chasing down more trophies – another Champions League, more Premier League titles.

    Long term, it will be targeting Alan Shearer's Premier League record. With his current trajectory, breaking that is very doable.

    In the background, it is difficult to ignore the charges that Manchester City are facing – and denying - from the Premier League.

    Neither party has commented on what this deal tells us, but a nine-and-a-half year contract, in the year the Blues could face some of the harshest punishments ever dealt to a club if found guilty, perhaps doubles down City's stance that they have done nothing wrong, and demonstrates a strong trust between player and club.

    Listen to Total Sport on BBC Radio Manchester every weeknight at 18:00 and listen to every Manchester City game - home and away - live on BBC Radio Manchester.

    An image detailing how to follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.

  6. Mind-boggling Haaland stats

    Erling Haaland Since Man City debut Appearances 126 Goals 111 Assists 16 Trophies 4

    Erling Haaland has taken the Premier League by storm since his move from Borussia Dortmund.

    The Norway striker has won two Premier League titles, one Champions League, one FA Cup, the Community Shield and Uefa Supercup.

    In the Premier League alone he has scored 79 goals in his 87 appearances - a strike rate of 0.9 goals a game, and a record of scoring a goal every 91 minutes. As the graph below shows, that is the best of anyone who has played more than 5,000 minutes in the competition.

    Given he has already scored eight hat-tricks, it is possibly not a huge surprise.

    He is only six goals shy of being in the top 50 Premier League scorers of all time - and needs to score around 18 goals a season if he is to break the all-time scoring record over the duration of this contract.

    At current pace, he would sur Alan Shearer's record of 260 goals towards the end of the 2029-30 season.

    Graph showing Erling Haaland's minutes-per-goal ratio is the best of all to have played more than 5,000 Premier League matches

  7. Erling Haaland

  8. 'I am City, no matter what' - Haaland

    Pep Guardiola and Erling HaalandGetty Images

    Erling Haaland says he is "City no matter what" after committing his future to the club for another nine-and-a-half years.

    The 24-year-old's previous deal was set to expire in 2027, but he is now contracted to City until 2034.

    "I am really happy to have signed my new contract and to be able to look forward to spending even more time at this great club," said the Norway striker.

    "Manchester City is a special club, full of fantastic people with amazing ers and it's the type of environment that helps bring the best out of everybody.

    "I also want to thank Pep, his coaching staff, my team-mates and everyone at the club as they have all helped me so much in the past couple of years. They have made this such a special place to be and now I am City, no matter what.

    "Now I want to keep developing, keep working to get better and look to do my best to try and help us achieve more success going forward."

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