Pep on Haaland critics: 'People want him to fail'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said people want Erling Haaland to fail after the striker ended his goal drought in the team's Champions League win at Young Boys on Wednesday.

Haaland, 23, scored for the first time in six Champions League games with his double to help City secure a 3-1 win over the Swiss club.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
- UCL talking points: Are Man City favourites to retain UCL title?

Haaland, who rewrote several scoring records last season, added another on Wednesday, breaking Kylian Mbappé's mark as the youngest player to score 37 Champions League goals. The Norway international achieved the feat in 33 games.

Guardiola defended his striker from criticism and warned that Haaland will continue to score goals throughout the rest of his career.

"It is important to have the chances; the people want him to fail," Guardiola told TNT Sports after the match.

"I am sorry, but this guy will score goals all his life. With the chances, he is an incredible threat.

"The players need the ability to find the pass like Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gündogan. But he is going to score until the last day he plays football."

The Premier League champions maintained their 100% winning record in Group G with three victories, despite their pregame concerns about playing on the slick artificial turf at rain-lashed Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, Switzerland.

City can clinch their spot in the knockout stage when they play Young Boys again, this time at home, on Nov. 7.

Guardiola's side return to league action when they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the derby on Sunday.

Information from Reuters was included in this report.