Six Premier League matches and already two “Haatricks”. The word created by the Daily Star, contraction of “hat trick” (translate hat trick) and Haaland, risks entering the common vocabulary if the Norwegian continues at this rate. Three goals against Crytal Palace, rebelotte against Nottingham Forest, the cyborg did not arrive on English soil to be in the lace. “We are completely in love with him,” proclaimed his trainer. And if Haaland continues this momentum, as City kick off their Champions League campaign on Tuesday (9pm) against Sevilla, the honeymoon can begin.
Guardiola’s adaptation to the game was quick. It must be said that at 22, the striker is already at his fourth professional club. And between Molde, Salzburg and Dortmund, he has never been in place for more than three seasons, so blending in with the scenery he knows well. Nevertheless, at his young age, melting so quickly into a guardiolesque mold on which some have already broken their teeth, it’s strong.
Liga
Imperial Barça, Seville in the fog
03/09/2022 At 20:53
Lewandowski, Haaland, Mané: what is the best deal of the summer?
Sacred passing times
The least we can say is that the English Premier League has seen some emblematic, if not legendary, attackers. None of them managed to hit as hard and fast as their Norwegian counterpart. Ten goals in the first six league matches, no one had ever achieved it before Haaland. “I like that he wants to score three goals in every game, but that won’t happen. I know it won’t happen,” Guardiola tried to temper. In vain, across the Channel, many football lovers are conquered, “Haaland cannot be stopped” headlined The Guardian the day after his hat-trick against Nottingham.
More impressive still, his achievements are made in a different style from that observed on the side of Dortmund, where his label of serial goalscorer has been affixed to him. Less deep calls, less dribbling, and above all much less balls touched. Leather hits his feet an average of 24 times every 90 minutes. Including a terrible meeting against West Ham, his first at home with the Skyblues, just eight balls touched. In his last season in Dortmund, he touched 33 on average.
Not weaned but limited, Erling Haaland shows a new facet of his game, almost in a “surface fox” type register at times. Contrary to the space swallower, he was in the Yellow and Black jersey. Like his match against Nottingham. A first goal on a cross from Foden cut at the near post. On the second, he was in the right place at the right time to push the ball into the empty goal after the ball miraculously returned to his feet. And the last, a header from close range after a throw-in from Stones.
He was not recruited to score in PL
Certainly Haaland has adapted to City, but Guardiola has also adapted to Haaland. He who loves his system of play so much without a real top striker, has come up against a major problem in recent years in the Champions League. The spectacular double confrontation against Real Madrid in the semi-finals last season is the embodiment of this. Manchester City need a killer up front. Whether outward or return, one still wonders how the Citizens managed not to complete each meeting with at least two goals in advance. Finally yes, in fact the answer is simple: they did not have a number 9 of the caliber of Karim Benzema.
Erling Haaland Pep Guardiola
Credit: Getty Images
The Norwegian was therefore recruited for this specific reason. Find a striker whose hand, or rather foot, does not tremble when punishing on the European stage. In this respect, Haaland has stratospheric passing times: 23 goals in 19 Champions League matches is quite simply the best ratio in the history of the competition. And for him to have the opportunity to turn City around, it’s impossible to make him play like a false 9. Nor to make him come in during the game like Gabriel Jesus, he didn’t sign for that.
Guardiola has therefore made some small concessions on his game plan. So obviously, the main lines remain the same. But it takes space for the 22-year-old striker to let his main quality speak, in sequence: his power. Evidenced by the last of his three goals scored against Crystal Palace. A deep call, impassable ball protection to resist Ward’s return and a surgical finish. “Happy to no longer run after this guy” joked Aymeric Laporte when formalizing the transfer of his new teammate from Dortmund. Let’s bet that he would be even happier, with the help of Haaland, to no longer chase after the Cups with the big ears.
Premier League
The Haaland monster still sows terror, Arsenal clings to the lead
08/31/2022 At 8:21 PM
Premier League
Haaland, paradoxale arme fatale
08/30/2022 At 10:13 PM