Phil Foden gets Man City boost as Pep Guardiola gives Erling Haaland reality check

It took Erling Haaland just 12 minutes to show what he can add to the Premier League champions.

For all the silly talk of Bundesliga tax and everything else, those that know the Manchester City signing better than most noted that most of his goals came with his first touch in the box or tap-ins. As if by magic, his first strike as a Blue was to turn home Jack Grealish's cross in the six-yard box in what turned out to be the only goal against Bayern Munich (who are no mugs, by the way.)

As delighted as Pep Guardiola will have been, he was also keen to strike a(nother) note of caution. Never mind the expectations on Haaland's shoulders, City are keen to manage the burden on the 22-year-old's body as he transitions from being the main man to Dortmund to the figurehead of a team that plays even more games in a more intense league.

Also read: Pep Guardiola rates Erling Haaland debut for Man City

Haaland was withdrawn at the break in Green Bay and it may be a while before he is blasting through 90 minutes every three days. "He has to be who he is. He is always there with a sense of goal, with space behind he has rhythm," said the manager.

"But this is just the first 40 minutes he has played, he made just four or five training sessions. He needs weeks, he's not like Phil Foden for example, who can have two days of training sessions and then play 180 minutes.

"He's big, he needs more time — but we have a long week after the Community Shield and a long week after West Ham. They will be important to get his best condition, but it is important for strikers to start scoring goals."

If that is something of a reality check for anyone expecting Haaland to be firing on all cylinders from the beginning, it is also good news for