In the realm of football, April’s second Saturday marked a pivotal moment when Pep Guardiola finally revealed what all reporters had been eagerly awaiting about Erling Haaland.
A gravity-defying volley into Southampton’s net, as the Norwegian striker returned to action post-injury, showcased one of his most remarkable goals this season. The City coach, however, was here to delve into the quality that defines him. When you tally 30 goals in the league and 44 across all competitions before the Easter festivities, it’s inevitable to be compared to the game’s two greatest players.
“If you count the number of games Erling has played in his professional career and compare the number of goals within the same number of games, he’s on par with Cristiano Ronaldo at the highest level,” the Catalan coach stated. “It’s quite similar to Cristiano.
“I believe Messi is a better player, more complete. He can play anywhere.”
Nonetheless, being mentioned in the same conversation with Ronaldo and Messi has showcased the significant impact he has made in his debut season in English football.
A goal in his eighth appearance means he didn’t quite make the desired impact during the season’s crescendo. But with 52 goals at an astonishing average rate of one goal every 79 minutes, Haaland epitomizes an extraordinary striker. It’s an unprecedented goal-scoring ability in the Premier League, even threatening the incredible 63-goal record set by Dixie Dean in the 1920s.
While no longer a question of his goal-scoring prowess, the query for Haaland next season is whether he can progress even further. It’s a rhetorical question, yet his stats are truly enigmatic.
A favorable reality is that Man City has adapted to him leading the attack after two years without a recognized number 9. There were challenging moments in January and February when both player and team tried to maintain their rhythm, but things fell into place, leading to overall development—although they’d need to recalibrate after Ilkay Gundogan’s departure.
Looking at how Haaland has been managed to keep him fit—playing two out of the last three games once the title was secured—it’s likely he will feature more in the upcoming season, which also means more targets. New adversaries in the Premier League and Champions League will usher in a fresh start for him.
“Don’t forget, I’m 22,” he retorted, responding to Henry.
“From the time I signed from Dortmund till now, there’s been a lot of big differences in many things. From how I think after a game, how I think before a game, how I push myself, how I talk to others.
“You gain experience through people and on the pitch. I agree—I can develop even further.”
Whether Haaland can develop to score even more goals remains a profound question, despite his world-class potential. Guardiola withdrew him in prior seasons to protect him for future clashes.
Another record-breaking season with treble winners will reach its latter half, as Haaland seeks to cement his reputation as one of the finest the game has ever seen. While not much is publicly discussed, he can trust Guardiola’s unequivocal support for that journey.
