Within just a few weeks the “goal-machine” that is Erling Haaland has shown how he completes the Manchester City winning jigsaw. His addition to Pep Guardiola’s lineup looks to have given the side a strong case to retain their Premier League title, as well as potentially secure the ever elusive Champions League title.
Erling Haaland Could Be the Missing Piece for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City
▫️ 25 goals in 20 Champions League games.
▫️ Goal on his UCL debut with Man City, Borussia Dortmund and RB Salzburg.
▫️ A goal every 54 minutes in Man City shirt so far.
Erling Haaland. Mamma mia.
👽🇳🇴 #MCFC #UCL pic.twitter.com/8PBf4LiC2R— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 6, 2022
Like Father, Like Son
Haaland is the son of Alfie Haaland who turned out for Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, as well as his son’s current club, Manchester City. The versatile defensive midfielder also made 34 appearances for the Norway national team.
While Alfie was a defensive player, his son instead has matured into the type of player that would give him headaches on the pitch. The 22-year-old Leeds-born Erling has developed into a world-class striker and looks to be on the road to surpassing his father’s accomplishments. The younger Haaland has already registered 21 appearances for Norway returning an incredible 20 goals in those appearances.
Prolific From the Start
Erling began his career at Bryne in Norway before moving to Molde at the age of 16. Following two seasons in the Norwegian top flight, Haaland moved to the Austrian Bundesliga with Red Bull Salzburg. The Norwegian only managed 27 appearances in a season-and-a-half at Salzburg but he bagged an impressive 29 goals, catching the eyes of many of the top clubs in Europe. A move to Borussia Dortmund followed, where he scored 86 goals in 89 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit.
Haaland’s goal-scoring record and awards would no doubt have tempted many suitors but it was Pep Guardiola’s side that lured the towered striker away from Dortmund. His father’s past connection to the club and the prospect of playing for “one of the best managers of all-time” likely contributed to his choice. That, and the almost certain chance of winning many honours.
🤪 Erling Haaland's 10 league goals so far this season is more than Leo Messi, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane have managed COMBINED (9) pic.twitter.com/xzCnnJ5kCT
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) September 13, 2022
Why Is Haaland the Final Piece in the Manchester City Jigsaw?
Haaland stands at a towering 6’4″ but is much more than just a target man. The sgamer has shown his ability to make well-timed runs into the box and finishes his chances with finesse. The 22-year-old is currently leading the Premier League in shots on target with 15, with 10 of those shots finding the back of the net.
The Norwegian is averaging 1.87 goals per games at City and even joined elite company when he scored back-to-back hat-tricks in the Premier League. With elite size and excellent pace, it’s not difficult to envisage a world in which Haaland maintains his current form and breaks records in the league.
Add Haaland to a Manchester City team that scored 99 goals in the league last season, albeit predominantly with Gabriel Jesus operating as a ‘false-nine’, and it might just be the year that Guardiola finally claims that elusive Champions League Title. Not many would bet against it happening next year in Istanbul.
