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Van Hecke Reflects on Victory Over Manchester City and Guardiola’s Compliment

By suresixstraightwin suresixstraightwin 0

Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke has opened up about his post-match interaction with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola following Brighton’s 2-1 victory over the reigning Premier League champions. The match saw van Hecke face off with City’s star striker Erling Haaland, and the Dutchman reflected on the conversation he had with Guardiola after the game.

Guardiola’s Compliments and Constructive Criticism

In an interview with Algemeen Dagblad, Van Hecke recalled a friendly exchange with Guardiola.
“After the game, City manager Pep Guardiola came to me. It was a nice conversation: he congratulated me on the win and said we had played well,” Van Hecke shared. “Then he talked about my last duel with Haaland, where he thought I should have stayed on my feet. I replied that I went down but I got up again straight away – and that was it. We continued talking quietly in the players’ tunnel.”

Guardiola’s compliment about Van Hecke’s performance was not lost on the Brighton defender, who took it in stride, despite the manager’s constructive feedback.

Haaland’s Goal and Teammates’ Jokes

While Haaland managed to score the opening goal in the match, Brighton’s resilience saw them come from behind to claim all three points. Van Hecke’s defensive performance was celebrated, but he also acknowledged that Haaland was still a threat.
“A few guys at Oranje looked in my pocket on Monday night as a joke, to see if Erling Haaland was supposedly still in it,” he laughed. “But I have to be critical. We won against City, but Haaland did score, so he wasn’t completely in my pocket.”

Van Hecke continued, praising his overall performance and Brighton’s achievement. “It went really well on Saturday. I played well, and when you win 2-1 against Manchester City, you automatically get a lot of compliments.”

Van Hecke’s interaction with Guardiola post-match highlighted the respect between the two professionals, with Guardiola offering praise and some constructive advice. The victory over Manchester City is a significant achievement for Brighton, and Van Hecke’s performance was crucial in securing the win. While Haaland’s goal didn’t go unnoticed, Van Hecke’s strong defensive display and his team’s victory continue to garner praise.

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