Guardiola and Co hail Haaland's 'not human' goal

While Pep Guardiola has become accustomed to the eye-popping feats of his goal-scoring machine Erling Haaland, the Manchester City manager still marvelled at the striker's stupendous strike on Oct 23, playfully suggesting that the Norwegian is not human.

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The 24-year-old scored twice as City thrashed Sparta Prague 5-0 at home in the Champions League, but it was his first goal - a flying back-heeled volley out of the air - that had social media in a frenzy and left his teammates in awe.

Asked by a reporter if such goals are "normal" for Haaland, Guardiola said: "I would say no. Not for a human being. I would say no."

The goal was more a remarkable physical effort than a thing of beauty, and similar to a karate kick goal he scored against Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

"I just spoke to him that if I tried to do that I'd pull my groin," said Phil Foden, who opened the scoring in the third minute.

"I don't know how he did it. I just think it's just his long legs. He's a freak isn't he?"