Man City striker Erling Haaland gave an exclusive interview to France Football. He talked about Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pep Guardiola. Haaland shares his feelings about the treble season, how he scored so many goals, the pressure of working with Pep and his chance to win the Golden Ball…
France Football: Hello Erling, you just celebrated your 23rd birthday on July 21. If we meet again in 10 years, what will you achieve?
Erling Haaland: This is a really interesting question. Obviously I want to win many titles with my teammates. But I also want people to remember me as a player who made a difference on the field, with my own style. That’s what I try to do every week, to be able to demonstrate something special. Yes, being recognized as a different person is what I want.
Have you felt different from other players?
Well, I can’t say the opposite. Anyway, each person is different, each person has their own way of playing. For me, the difference was made by coming to Man City and proving that what everyone was saying was wrong and that I could function well in the system here. Previously, they often played without a real striker, including Pep playing with a “false 9”. Up to this point, everything was going well anyway and I enjoyed it.
After such a season, both at the collective and individual levels, how do you find new motivations for yourself?
Winning such a treble (Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League) is such a great feeling that we want to taste it again, that’s all. This is a new season, my teammates and I want to relive that feeling.
What is the objective reason to believe that Erling Haaland will do better than last season, the season when he scored 56 goals and won every title with Man City?
Of course it will be difficult to do better than last season. We won a historic treble, people expected more from us, wanted to beat us even more. Last year, everyone wanted to beat us in the Premier League because we were the defending champions, but this season it will be more difficult because now all of Europe wants to take us down.
But I didn’t plan that much. My motivation is truly nurtured every day, by training, personal development, by progress from the smallest details. It is this daily desire that makes me yearn to try to achieve the same results as last year and even better.
To be honest, I didn’t expect to break the Premier League scoring record in my first season in England. However, with a quality squad like Man City, right in the middle of the 2022/23 season, I understood that it was possible. I can only thank my teammates for putting me in such good conditions.
No matter what match he was in, he was always at his best and never showed any regrets. How can you concentrate like that?
Everything starts from the same foundation: be passionate about what you do, but truly passionate. Otherwise it cannot be maintained. That’s why every day I’m focused because it’s what I’ve always enjoyed doing. And that’s good because Pep demands a lot from you. You can’t relax with such a strict coach. And you have a test every week because the match tells whether you are well prepared or not. “Taking exams every week” is our life. It’s important not to take any match for granted because they all have value.
We can’t play complacently against an opponent who is bottom of the Premier League table at the weekend just because we play Bayern or Real next Wednesday in the Champions League. First, because the National Championship is a marathon and no match is less important than the others. And then, because that’s how you get ready to play in the Champions League. That’s the mental state I’ve been working on improving: living in the moment, focusing on the present, not letting myself get distracted by other things.
How did you feel about not scoring a goal in the semi-finals and final of the Champions League last season?
I scored a few important goals during the season, right? (Laugh). More seriously, let’s take the example of the comeback against Real Madrid (Man City won 4-0 at Etihad in the Champions League semi-finals – PV), this is probably the greatest match in the history of The Citizens. That day I had a chance to score two or three goals but Thibaut Courtois had one of the matches of his life. (Laughs.) You know, scoring goals doesn’t stop there. The important thing is that we won and had a good performance.
At that time, the final was always a special match, it was a very tight match. But in the end, there is no greater feeling than a team victory. Obviously, under the best conditions, I would score a hat-trick. (Laughs) But, in the final, there is no time for personal considerations of this kind, you just have to win. That’s enough. I even cried for the first time in a long time because I fulfilled my biggest dream. All these emotions and joy largely washed away my personal performance in the final.
Do you ever doubt?
Doubts about what?
About yourself?
No (No need to think).
Really?
Are not.
Despite his superb season, there were at least initial concerns about the compatibility of City’s style of play with his own. They quickly disappeared, but what did you think about those criticisms at the time?
I don’t read much newspapers, but I also don’t live in a cave, so I hear these reviews and comments. My thinking is that I can’t decide what people will think or like, I have to live with it and if they do then don’t worry.
In the end, I think I showed everyone that things can work and Man City can play great football, even without me. Okay, we’ve had to live with floods at times, and that’s normal throughout a season. And finally, we were able to do what only MU could do before in the Premier League era (the treble in the 1998/99 season).
He is often in the right position in the penalty area to score goals. What is the secret to choosing that good location?
There is an element of instinct and of course an element of training. Instinct is the belief that the ball will go to a certain place, a kind of sixth sense hidden in the brain. However, besides that, you have to put in a lot of effort, rely on your personal qualities and learn to understand your teammates, their choices depending on their position in the action. So this understanding of the play and instincts tell you: “It’s time to score!”.
In particular, he has an incredible connection with Kevin de Bruyne.
I want to emphasize that not only with him but I have a good technical relationship with Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden or Riyad Mahrez (who went to Al-Ahli in Summer 2023 – Reporter). But actually for Kevin it was quite special. Because he’s at that level…
And what’s more, even before coming to Man City, when watching them play and seeing Kevin’s passing trajectory, I imagined how I could receive the ball, in what area, in what position, … And really, since arriving at the Etihad Stadium, we have found each other very well, we like to work on this connection, we think of the same way to handle the ball.
If you could take one quality from another player, what and whose would it be?
I wish I had Messi’s dribbling ability. What a good choice, right? (Laugh.)
What do you expect from a coach? Tactical lessons or human relationships?
Both. Tactical and gameplay contributions are essential. But I believe that everything will be better if relationships between people are good.
And with Pep, he has both?
With Pep, the relationship is very good. Of course, Mr. Pep is very strict in his work, very straightforward and sincere in his speech.
Did Pep help him become a better version or did he make Man City a better team?
(Laughs.) No, I will say that I have improved very well under Pep, I see that every day. And the results show that, I think. For my part, I believe I brought the ability to play more direct if needed, which allowed us to escape pressure if necessary.
After many years of competition between Messi and Ronaldo, are we now in the era of Haaland vs Kylian Mbappe?
It seems that’s what everyone thinks. But be careful, we must emphasize how crazy things Messi and Cristiano have done. We also have to remember that they still do it, because even if they are getting older, they are still great players. I feel honored to observe two extraordinary champions like them.
But, back to your question, I have never compared myself to other players, that’s not how I usually look at things. I’m focused on myself, I’m just looking to get better every day, continue to enjoy what I do and be the best version of myself.
However, do you look at the performances of players like Mbappe, Vinicius, Osimhen…?
Yes, of course, because I watch a lot of matches on TV. Through that, I witnessed Jude’s (Bellingham, his former Dortmund teammate) incredible debut at Real Madrid, which really made me happy for him. I am passionate about football, it is something I have always loved and I can say that it takes up all my time, both on and off the field. Furthermore, I like playing football in the garden with my sister.
He has achieved a lot of success at the club. Is one of your goals now to achieve great success with the Norwegian national team?
Oh yes, of course, I dream of achieving great things with the national team. We are a small country of only 5.5 million people so it is not easy. But I dream of participating in EURO or World Cup. From there imagine winning… It’s not impossible, but hey… Right now, we’re trying to get to a major tournament; If so then we can dream of bigger things. It’s a great challenge and I love challenges.
Would you trade Champions League success for an epic World Cup?
(Laughs.) No, I have real questions… There was something historical about the trophies won last season.
Will we come back to this if you win four or five Champions League titles?
Well, this would still be too difficult a choice. (Laugh.)
In France they nickname you “Robot”, do you know that?
(Laughs.) Yes, I heard about that. And I like it. “Le Cyborg” (he said in French), sounds good.
Do you think you are the best striker in the world today?
I think… (hesitates.)… That’s a question that traps me… I’m in good shape. Am I the best? Maybe. I know that Enrica (Tarchi, Haaland’s spokesperson, present during the interview) wanted me to be careful in my answer. (Laugh.)
Do you believe you won the Golden Ball this year?
I believe in myself, I really do. I know I can still improve a lot, I’m still young. But yes, I think this year I have a chance to win the Ballon d’Or.
Top 5 brightest candidates for the 2023 Golden Ball award (According to Skybet)
Messi (5/1 – bet 5 to 1)
Haaland (3/10)
De Bruyne (50/1)
Rodri (50/1)
Harry Kane (60/1)
Kylian Mbappe (60/1)
