'Non-negotiable' - Pep Guardiola performs major Erling Haaland u-turn after Man City training chat

Some time during the summer, Pep Guardiola pulled Erling Haaland aside during training in the USA and told his striker that he needs to improve.

90 goals in 98 Manchester City games prior (and five goals on tour last month) were all well and good, but Guardiola clearly felt that Haaland's third season was the time for the Norwegian to add a new aspect to his game. "I didn't like some things and he changed his mind," Guardiola said of the training ground chat on Saturday.

It is all-the-more interesting, then, that Haaland asked a question that felt very anti-Guardiola last week. "In games like this, do I need to be that more involved? That's the million-dollar question." Now the manager has provided an emphatic answer.

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Haaland had barely touched the ball in Manchester City's Community Shield success and the win over Chelsea, yet scored at Stamford Bridge when it mattered and got off the mark for the new campaign in his 100th appearance for the Blues. He added a hat-trick on Saturday against Ipswich to make it 94 goals in 101 outings in sky blue. One more and he will already be in the club's top 20 goalscorers.

Seven days on, and Pep Guardiola has answered that 'million dollar question'. Even after a tenth City hat-trick, Guardiola laid down the next challenge to Haaland - re-opening a debate that has followed the striker since arriving in England two summers ago.

Haaland may not yet be convinced about being more involved, but Guardiola has now issued a passionate plea to his number nine to improve his elite