“Ah, Manchester City scored? Whose goal?” Erling Haaland obviously … This season, every weekend, it’s the same tune. This Saturday, October 22, the blond giant went there again with his double against Brighton (3-1) to offer a valuable success a Manchester City, launched in pursuit of Arsenal.
After a first goal scored all in power on a clearance from Ederson (21st), Norwegian centre-forward carried, on penalty (41st), his total of achievements in the Premier League at 17, in eleven league games. Quite a symbol for City, which often evolved without a real number 9 last season, and which now relies on a Haaland who has already scored more goals than all of his partners over the whole of last season… in barely a third of the championship.
Impressive statistics which made Pep Guardiola react after the meeting. “The numbers are obviously incredible and its quality is beyond doubt.recognized the Mancunian coach. He’s not the best striker I’ve worked with [comprenez Lionel Messi] but it is certainly one of the best I have come across”.
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Given its realism and its current form, the “Cyborg” could break the record for goals scored in a season. The Norwegian is ahead of Lionel Messi’s legendary 2011-12 season, which ended with a total of 73 club goals, with Barça. After fifteen club games in all competitions, Haaland scored 22 goals, when the Argentinian was 18 at the same stage.
For three months, the Manchester City striker has been breaking records. For example, he became the fastest player to score three hat-tricks in the Premier League (3 hat-tricks in eight matches, ahead of Michael Owen’s 3 hat-tricks in 48 games). The only thing that could hold him back seems to be his own body. During the last exercise, the striker notably missed 16 Borussia Dortmund games due to three different injuries.
Reason why Pep Guardiola does not hesitate to blow it when he can, as when moving from Manchester City to Copenhagen in the Champions League (0-0). Saturday, he did not play the last ten minutes against Brighton. But in an extended season where matches follow one another every three days, Norway’s non-qualification for the World Cup could become a boon for Erling Haaland. He will have a good month to rest, before resuming 2023 with the desire to continue on the same golden standards.