I can’t take it any longer. As much as I’d like to hold back my thoughts on Erling Haaland for later down the line this season, especially given we’re seeing star performance after star performance, I’ve decided to offer my take now. It’s a risk, I know…
Four Premier League games. Nine goals. Two hat-tricks. This is a new form of Erling Haaland you’re now witnessing in a Manchester City shirt, and we’re not just talking about an improvement in scoring form and efficiency in front of goal – though yes, it was possible.
You’re watching a 24-year-old seasoned professional in the art of goalscoring becoming more of a key component in City’s general build-up play. We’re talking about the dropping deep, holding up the ball, feeding in creative midfielders and wide players, before driving towards the opponent’s penalty area. Haaland is improving as an all-round footballer, both technically and in terms of his overall education in the game.
Despite breaking almost every record in sight during his debut season with the club back in 2022-23, much of the criticism that was still managing to come his way centred around his involvement away from putting the ball in the net.
‘Why should a goalscorer do more than goalscoring?’ you may ask. Well, Pep Guardiola believes there should be more to his game, too.
This is any defender’s worst nightmare: focusing too much on a man who could possibly put a triple hat-trick past you in 90 minutes (yes, he’s done it before); losing sight of that man, then seeing him build up the play; before he’s past you in a flash in and around the 18-yard box and striking beyond your goalkeeper.
There is far more to think about when it comes to the latest version of Erling Braut Haaland. And it is only going to become an even scarier proposition for defenders all over the globe the longer he works on his own technical abilities and reading of the game alongside Guardiola.
And while you’re thinking about that, you’re also forgetting about Kevin de Bruyne, Savinho, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, Rodri…
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