Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has admitted Pep Guardiola can sometimes be "brutal" because of his demanding nature but insists their relationship is "very good".
Haaland scored 56 times for City last season, shattering records along the way. He then started the 2023/24 Premier League campaign with a brace in the first 36 minutes of the opening day win over Burnley. But the Norwegian was publicly berated by Guardiola as he left the pitch at half-time.
Guardiola was seen animatedly instructing his striker to do more as they walked together towards the Turf Moor dressing rooms for the interval and aggressively pushed a television camera to the side upon becoming aware the exchange was being filmed.
The incident drew criticism from pundits, who suggested Guardiola should have waited to speak to Haaland behind closed doors.
"There'll be some people who'll love the intensity of that and say that that's why he's the best manager on the planet. Then there'll be others who will say that you shouldn't do that in a public forum, grabbing his arm in front of the cameras," Gary Neville said on Sky Sports' live coverage.
"I played for one of the most intense managers in the history of the game (Sir Alex Ferguson) - but he'd never have done that on the pitch in such a way."
Alan Shearer concurred on BBC Match of the Day the following night: "If he doesn't want the cameras to see him then wait until you're in the dressing room.
"I wouldn't have liked that. I'd have said two words to him and one of them would have been 'off'. Say what you want to me in the dressing room and give me the biggest telling off but not in front of the crowd like that."
READ THE LATEST MAN CITY NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
Haaland has had his say on Guardiola during an interview published by L'Equipe that coincides with his nomination for the 2023 Ballon d'Or, for which he is a favourite alongside Lionel Messi to win.
"Pep demands a lot from you. You can't get sloppy with a coach this demanding," he said.
"That's his way of managing. In any case, to develop and progress, it is better to have the whole truth in a very direct way. We can say it, sometimes it's brutal. But I like that. It shows that he is totally involved and passionate.
"On the first day at Burnley, he could be seen. But I appreciate it because he shows that he is totally committed and passionate. It's not always pleasant but, at the same time, it brings you face to face with the truth and I know his purpose is to make you a better player.
"We have a very good relationship. Of course, he is very demanding in his work, he is very direct and honest in what he says, but that is the way he manages. That's what happens at work. There's a lot of fun outside. There are many smiles, and the proof is in how the group has lived for several years."
LISTEN NOW TO 90MIN'S TALKING TRANSFERS PODCAST
On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders is joined by Graeme Bailey to discuss Al Ittihad's attempts to sign Mohamed Salah, Jadon Sancho's Man Utd future, the players that could still leave the Premier League and more!
If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!
This article was originally published on 90min as Erling Haaland reveals how he has thrived under 'brutal' Pep Guardiola.
