Pep Guardiola hails ‘incredible’ Erling Haaland after Man City striker scored a brace in comeback win over Brentford just days after the death of close friend

Pep Guardiola praised the camaraderie in the Manchester City dressing room that helped match-winner Erling Haaland come to terms with the pain of defeat.

Haaland was given the option to miss Saturday’s match against Brentford following the death of close family friend ‘Uncle’ Ivar Eggja, but the Norwegian opted to start and scored twice in City’s 2-1 win.

“He said on Friday that he wanted to play,” Guardiola confirmed. “Of course it has been tough, he is a human being, but in the dressing room we try to look after each other and everyone here.

‘We were in touch and asked how he was doing, and if he wasn’t ready yet, he would come to me.

‘Sometimes it’s the best way to do the job he’s been doing perfectly for years.

Haaland (right) recently lost family friend Ivar Eggja (left), who passed away at the age of 59

‘You have to be strong, maybe you have to forget your private life for 90 minutes when life slaps you in the face.’

Jack Grealish added of Haaland’s second, in which he shook off Ethan Pinnock on a running race before beating goalkeeper Mark Flekken: ‘The second showed what he’s all about. He used his body well and made a brilliant finish.’

After Yoane Wisa had scored for Brentford after 22 seconds, Haaland scored twice more before half-time to take his season tally to nine goals in four games, but a third consecutive hat-trick was denied by the woodwork.

“He is an incredible weapon, one-on-one. We have to explode and use it,” Guardiola said. “I would say this is the best he has ever done. I will look at the table seriously after 10 or 12 games, but it is better to have the points for sure.”

Brentford could have been 3-0 up inside the first 20 minutes but Guardiola said: ‘They are really good and we were lucky to be 2-1 up. Everyone said afterwards that we struggled.’

Guardiola claims Norwegian striker’s form is ‘the best’ he’s had so far after another win

‘Thomas Frank is one of the best managers. It’s a matter of time (before he goes to a bigger club). They’ll get a good manager.’

Frank, the last visiting manager to win at The Etihad in 2022, was proud of his team’s efforts to repeat the triumph.

“If City are the best team in the world, we were world class for the first 25 minutes,” he said. “And when Kevin De Bruyne runs to the corner in the last few minutes, I have to be 50-50 between being frustrated and on the other hand extremely proud of what we did.”