Pep Guardiola jokes he took Erling Haaland off against Burnley to preserve Lionel Messi's record

Pep Guardiola has put Erling Haaland’s incredible scoring down to his ‘joy in life’ as embattled Burnley boss Vinny Kompany admits the Manchester City striker is on his way to becoming an elite player like Ronaldo and Messi.

Haaland took his season’s tally to 42 with his sixth hat-trick of the season in Saturday’s 6-0 FA Cup win over Burnley, matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s best tally for Manchester United when he won the Ballon d Or.

The Norwegian is close to passing Mo Salah and Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record Premier League season record of 44 goals in all competitions, with Clive Allen’s 49 for Tottenham in 1986/87 also in danger. Dixie Dean’s 60 goals in the 1920s would be the ultimate personal achievement.

Guardiola said: ‘This guy (Haaland) will have a problem in the future because everyone expects him to get three or four per game, and that’s not going to happen.

‘But I know him, he doesn’t care about that. He is very positive and optimistic about his life. He never complains and as long as the team plays with this intensity, he will score goals, although the exact target, I don’t know.

Erling Haaland took his season’s tally to 42 with his sixth hat-trick of the season against Burnley

Pep Guardiola praised the striker before saying his ‘joie de vivre’ was the key

‘He is very effective and an incredible threat to his power. But his joy in life, always thinking good things will happen, helps too.’

Guardiola took Haaland off at the end having also substituted him in midweek against Leipzig thus denying him the chance to become the first player to score six goals in a Champions League.

The City manager, who was criticized at the time for robbing his player of the chance to surpass Lionel Messi’s five for Barcelona against Leverkusen, had a quick one-liner when asked about switching back his centre- forward.

‘I don’t want him to break the record for Messi in the FA Cup,’ he quipped. ‘I’m trying to punish my players – this is my intention!’

Progressing to the semi-finals of the FA Cup means a potential Treble is still possible, although City have a tough Champions League clash against Guardiola’s former club Bayern Munich to come.

‘To survive in three competitions is incredible. The best is coming and hopefully we can handle it game by game,’ said the manager.

‘We have to win almost every game in the Premier League because Arsenal are playing so well and it’s an honor to play Bayern.

‘I felt the players started to feel that we couldn’t lose any game or it was over. That is when we are at our best. In the Premier League, we have to win, win and the Champions League is what it is.

Guardiola joked that he removed Haaland to preserve Messi’s record against Bayer Leverkusen

Vincent Kompany compared Haaland to Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Zidane and Ronaldinho

TV pundit Alan Shearer said of Haaland, who has now scored nine goals in a week: ‘He’s a beast. He is a goal scoring machine. He lives, breathes for goals. If he doesn’t score them, he doesn’t sleep at night

Defeated manager Vincent Kompany added: ‘I think he’s an exciting player. He has athleticism and speed and has a good feel for where the ball bounces. He reacted like a poacher.

‘He will get better, no doubt. He is also in the right place for his development, with the right coach.

‘I played against the greats of their time, Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Zidane, Ronaldinho. They are part of a special elite. I think even the best try to prevent these guys. they will find a way. Someone like Erling will always find a way.

‘The biggest thing is that he is a superstar who is ready to improve. His goal scoring record puts him on a special level. That’s the hardest part of his game. If he keeps doing that, he’ll be one of the best. It’s not something you experience a lot.’