Champions League: Man City striker set to rule over Europe as Pep focuses on historic treble
The record-setting Erling Haaland is predicted to dominate the Champions League for years to come. The Manchester City forward hopes to lead his team to a treble on Saturday against Inter Milan.
The record-setting Erling Haaland is predicted to dominate the Champions League for years to come. The Manchester City forward hopes to lead his team to a treble on Saturday against Inter Milan.
Haaland scored 52 goals in all competitions in his first season in the Premier League after signing from Borussia Dortmund.
The 22-year-old contributed to City’s successful quest to surpass Arsenal in the title race before Pep Guardiola’s side completed the second leg of their treble by defeating Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
This weekend, when they face Inter in Istanbul, City are heavy favorites to claim their first Champions League title.
City would become only the second English club since Manchester United in 1999 to win the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup in the same season.
Haaland believes he will only improve as he spends more time in Guardiola’s distinctive system, which is ominous news for defenders across Europe.
He said, “I’ve been growing in a really positive way, which is crucial for me because I’m still so young.”
“I’m 22 years old, I have a lengthy career ahead of me, and I still need to grow. Over a year ago, when contemplating my next move, I also considered this.
Inter striker Romelu Lukaku, who is familiar with the ups and downs of life in the Premier League, shares this opinion.
Former Manchester United and Everton striker Lukaku, who is currently on loan at Inter from Chelsea, is a great admirer of Haaland, whose physical style of play parallels the Belgian’s own.
He expects the Norwegian to establish himself as the most feared forward in the world alongside Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain.
“I believe he and Mbappe will dominate world football for the next decade,” Lukaku told CNN.
“They will contend with the next generation. They will surpass Messi and Ronaldo within the next two years.”
Haaland’s phenomenal first season with City is enough to cause Inter manager Simone Inzaghi sleepless nights.
Haaland’s 36 Premier League goals in a single season set a record for the league.
Haaland’s 12 goals in 10 Champions League appearances this season were instrumental in City’s advancement to their second final in Europe’s premier club competition.
He is the first player to be voted Premier League Player, Young Player of the Year, and Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Men’s Footballer of the Year in the same season.
It has been a transformative year for Haaland, who said, “I’m 196cm tall and have long blond hair, so people will see me wherever I go. So this is how my existence unfolds.
“What should I do? There is nothing I can do; such is my existence. I must simply attempt to savor it as much as possible. It’s crucial that I try to unwind when I’m at home and surrounded by decent people.
It is difficult to fathom now, but earlier this year there was a brief period when some critics believed City was worse off with Haaland.
After winning the title without a recognized striker in each of the previous two seasons, City had fallen behind Arsenal in the Premier League due to Haaland’s isolating performances up front.
He has decisively subdued his detractors, but Inter will be aware that he has scored only one goal in his last seven games.
Haaland has not gone without a goal in as many games for City since April 2021, when he went four games without scoring.
However, Haaland immediately issued a warning to Inter following the final siren of the FA Cup match.
While embracing Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva on the Wembley field, Haaland urged his City teammates to make a final push in Istanbul.
“Come on, one more,” he yelled while thrusting his fist.
Few would be surprised if the intensely motivated Haaland ended his goal drought by netting the City-making goal.
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Champions League: Man City striker set to rule over Europe as Pep focuses on historic treble