Guardiola thrilled that Haaland is here to stay!

Pep Guardiola is delighted that Erling Haaland has committed his long-term future to Manchester City and says he is making him a better manager.

Haaland: Now I want to get even better! The Norwegian has signed a new 10-year contract, that will keep him at the Club until the summer of 2034.

One of the best strikers in world football, the 24-year-old has made a huge impact in his two-and-a-half years at City scoring 111 goals already and winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and the Champions League as well as a raft of individual honours.

“It’s exceptional news for all of us at the club,” the City boss said in his news conference ahead of our game with Ipswich on Sunday at 16:30 (UK).

“When one player decides to sign this type of contract it’s because he wants to show how he wants to be here.

“It’s the trust of the club to Erling – the club knows perfectly how professional he is. His commitment every day and every game to show his talent.

“And from him because in 10 years we never know what’s going to happen, it’s a long time. Always in a short career what will happen will happen. He proved what he wanted. And he has trust in the club.

“I think what happened is that he loves the club, the people he’s around, the Premier League, he loves to be here and I think he visualised that there is no better place he could be right now or the next 10 years I would say.”

After signing his new deal, Haaland cited Guardiola, his coaching staff, City team-mates and the fans among the many reasons for the agreement.

And the boss says it’s a challenge for him and the squad to keep creating great opportunities for arguably the best finisher in the game.

“The club and team, myself as a manager, we have to create an environment to create a lot of moments where he can intervene where he is unstoppable because there he is the best,” Guardiola added.

“We have to of course understand the game and what happens during the gam and the decisions he has to make.

“He is still young and I’m pretty sure he will mature playing games and games and games, and it will happen naturally.

“I think he chatted with me when it was done and after we congratulated each other.

“He’s making me a better manager and staff better staff, that’s for sure. He’s helping me.”

And the City boss has no concerns that his appetite for success will be impacted by such a long-term commitment with our No. 9 driven to score more goals and collect more trophies.

“I didn’t speak to him about his motivation,” he added. “I think it’s winning the next game and scoring goals.

“I don’t have the feeling now he has the contract he will take a nap. I don’t think this will happen.

“He loves to play and he is a huge competitor, and at the same time in good and bad moments, he’s good at forgetting about it immediately, putting it in the back [of his mind], and getting on with the next.”