Young dreams meet City stars: Guardiola and Haaland inspire next-generation

Children from the Manchester City academy had a memorable experience when they visited, among others, Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland during a training session. At one point, the young players excitedly ran over to their striker, leaving the City's manager behind.

Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland are the standout figures at Manchester City. The former, renowned as one of the top football coaches globally, guided the team to its first Champions League triumph last season. On the other hand, Erling Haaland is a prolific striker widely expected to clinch the Ballon d'Or soon.

Meeting Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland for the youngsters training at the Manchester City academy is an unparalleled experience, especially when the first team's dressing room is packed with stars like Kevin De Bruyne.

A humorous moment unfolded during the session. Pep Guardiola fostered a light-hearted atmosphere, playfully directing the group of youngsters towards Erling Haaland.

The 53-year-old then quizzed the children on who had scored more goals - him or 23-year-old Erling Haaland? Wisely, they remarked that despite Haaland being 30 years his junior, he had already outscored the seasoned manager by a wide margin. Guardiola, primarily a central midfielder noted for his defensive contributions, was never known for his goal-scoring prowess.

So run to Haaland - Guardiola jestingly told the young visitors after they responded, feigning offence. Luckily, Haaland wasn’t too far off, standing nearby.

Post-training, the children captured a moment with Manchester City’s top scorer in a group photo. The visit to the first team's training undoubtedly left a lasting impression on them.