Guardiola reacts to Rooney leaving Haaland out of Premier League top three

Pep Guardiola downplayed Wayne Rooney’s decision to exclude Erling Haaland from his Premier League top three, which featured Antoine Semenyo, Viktor Gyökeres and Bryan Mbeumo. Guardiola said Rooney’s view is only an opinion and not an issue. Haaland continues strong form for Manchester City and recently helped Norway qualify for their first World Cup in 28 years.

For the latest debate surrounding Premier League performances, Pep Guardiola offered a calm response after Wayne Rooney left Erling Haaland out of his top 3 players of the season so far. Rooney had named Antoine Semenyo, Viktor Gyökeres and Bryan Mbeumo as his standout performers, which sparked discussion because Haaland remains the league’s most reliable goalscorer.

The Manchester City striker has continued his impressive scoring run this season and recently guided Norway to their first World Cup in 28 years. Guardiola, speaking ahead of a crucial run of fixtures, dismissed any controversy. He pointed out Rooney’s Manchester United background and insisted that opinions are subjective, stressing that such rankings hold little importance compared to team performance. Haaland has remained central to City’s attack through both domestic and international action.

His strong chemistry with new signing Rayan Cherki has also gained attention, especially after the pair linked up effectively in recent matches. Haaland has stayed in the spotlight off the pitch too, including his viral exchange with Italy’s Gianluca Mancini. Despite Rooney’s omission, the striker’s consistent output keeps him among the favourites for individual awards. If he maintains this level, leaving him out of end-of-season lists could become increasingly difficult, even for a Manchester United legend.