Pep Guardiola scolds Erling Haaland during half-time of Man City’s 3-0 win against Burnley…despite the superstar striker scoring a half-time brace

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was caught in a heated argument with Erling Haaland at half-time, despite the star striker scoring twice before the break.

The defending Premier League champions went on to win 3-0 against newly promoted Burnley on Friday night thanks to Haaland’s double, with Rodri leading by a third late in the day.

But even with a two-goal lead going into the break courtesy of the Norwegian, Guardiola did not hesitate to deliver a strong message to the young striker.

Guardiola explained after the game that the discussion was about Haaland’s desire to run on passes rather than getting balls on his feet.

“He wanted the ball in behind him and that ball didn’t have to be behind him,” he said. Sometimes you have to be patient to find the right moment. He wasn’t frustrated, I’m not frustrated. It happens in football. Don’t be so dramatic.’

The City boss later revealed that the disagreement stemmed from Haaland’s insistence on running to the back during the first half.

Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Izzy Christiansen agreed a by-product of the City boss’s genius is his unrivaled intensity, but questioned whether the display shouldn’t have been so public.

“There will be people who like the intensity of that,” Neville said on Sky after the incident. “The ruthlessness of it, showing why he’s a genius. There will be others asking why he’s doing it in a public forum with the cameras on.

“I’ve played with one of the most intense managers in the history of the game, but he always would have done it in the dressing room.”

Christiansen added: “He is a perfectionist and knows what he wants from his players. He wasn’t happy with some of his moves and we’ve seen him do this to other players before. He is looking for a reaction and an answer, he stimulates him and shows him what he wants.’

Haaland himself was not happy when the whistle blew to signal half-time, seemingly annoyed at teammate Bernardo Silva for not passing the ball to him.

Guardiola interrupted his enforced lesson on the pitch to walk over and push the Sky camera that had focused all its attention on the pair at the time.

Speaking at half-time on Sky Sports, Neville said the incident would divide opinion.

He said: ‘There will be people who will love the intensity of it and say that’s why he’s the best manager in the world. Then there will be others who will say you shouldn’t do that in a public forum, grabbing his arm in front of the cameras.

“I played for one of the most intense managers in the history of the game, but he would never have done it on the pitch like that.”

Haaland scored a brilliant goal to give Man City a two-goal lead over Burnley at half-time