Manchester City striker Erling Braut Haaland has heaped praise on teammate Jack Grealish for his role in their 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich on Saturday night and believes that "it is going to be fun" to play alongside the Englishman this season.
Haaland made the perfect start to life as a City player as he scored the only goal of the game in the 12th minute, with man-of-the-man Grealish providing the assist in an eventful encounter in Wisconsin.
The game was delayed on two occasions and reduced to an 80-minute affair due to an electrical storm passing over Green Bay's Lambeau Field, which was hosting its first ever soccer match with over 78,000 spectators in attendance.
Kickoff was delayed by 15 minutes before players and supporters were forced to take shelter from the heavy rain and lighting for just under an hour shortly after Haaland had put City in front.
The Citizens eventually claimed a comfortable yet slender victory over Bayern in their final warm-up match in the USA, and Haaland was quick to point out Grealish's contribution as well as remarking on his first ever win at the eighth time of asking against the perennial Bundesliga champions.
Speaking to mancity.com after the match about his connection with Grealish, Haaland said: "Good. He has to get better and I have to get better but (it was a) good link. I like the vibe around him so it's going to be fun."
The 22-year-old added: "Really good to get started again after six weeks without playing football so it was a good feeling.
"(It's the) first time I've won against Bayern and it was time after seven losses in a row. The quality was good and it was a real test ahead of Liverpool in the Community Shield."
Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, was pleased with his side's dominant performance against Bayern, and although he was keen to praise Haaland for his debut goal, he believes that the Norwegian striker still needs time to get to his best having suffered with minor "niggles" on their tour of the USA.
"[Haaland] scored a goal which is important, these type of goals in front of keeper – always he's there," said the Spaniard.
"(It was his) first minutes, he needs more rhythm and time but already he had 40 minutes which is good for him.
"We'll see how he reacts to the niggles that he had in the previous weeks. He's done really well (in training). He looks like a really nice guy, down to earth and funny.
"Not just him though, of course he's important but Julian [Alvarez], Kalvin [Phillips] and Stefan [Ortega] and the young lads I've been really impressed with."
While new recruits Haaland, Alvarez and Phillips all featured against Bayern, teenage duo Josh Wilson-Esbrand and Rico Lewis were also given run-outs and both players impressed Guardiola, with the former producing an assured display at left-back.
"The problem with Josh is the last two years he was injured. He had a problem with the knee and muscular issue, but we believe he has the potential," Guardiola added.
"He's aggressive to win the duels and with the ball is so clever, he [is] a good one-on-one defender and doesn't feel the pressure with the ball.
"Today was an example of how our back four were pressed but didn't lose much of the ball. He did a really good game. If we can control his injuries, we will have a full-back for many years."
City's pre-season tour of the USA has now come to an end, with victories secured against Club America and Bayern, and they are now set to return to England ahead of their Community Shield clash with Liverpool at the King Power Stadium next Saturday. body check tags ::
