Is Erling Haaland Ready for the Premier League?
Erling Braut Haaland has completed his move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City on a permanent deal but is he ready for English football? How will Haaland influence Manchester City? And How will he fit into Pep Guardiola’s force?
Undoubtedly a mighty deal for Manchester City, though it cost them a break in salary structure, but the Goaling-machine (Haaland) is a sky-blue until 2027. He will now display his artistry in England after three exceptional seasons, with Borussia Dortmund netting 85 goals in 88 appearances with a stunning scoring ratio of (0.96 goals per game).
Road to Manchester
At the age of 16, he made his senior debut against Ranheim in a second-tier 1. divisjon match; then Molde (Norwegian football club) announced the signing of 16-year-old Haaland on February 1, 2017. On April 26, he made his debut for the club in a Norwegian Cup encounter against Volda TI, scoring on his debut in a 3–2 triumph.
The footballing world began to take notice of Haaland when Red Bull Salzburg, the Austrian Bundesliga winners, announced in August 2018 that Haaland would join the team on January 1st, 2019, under a five-year contract. He became the first teenager to score consecutive goals in Champions League, leveling with Serhii Rebrov, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski at Salzburg.
Despite being a reported target of Manchester United and Juventus, Haaland signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund on 29 December 2019, three days before the winter transfer window opened for €20 million. Since then, Haaland has been linked with several major European clubs, but he has chosen Manchester City.
Haaland in Premier League
The son Alfie Haaland has already bannered his name in Austria, Norway and Germany, and now he is ready to compete in the world’s best football league, “The Premier League”. Football in England is a little different than football in Germany, but I can bet on this that Erling Haaland is going to set standards in Premier League with Men in blues.
There are questions yet to answer about how Haaland will find his feet in Guardiola’s eleven and how he will get the full advantage of his strength against some world-class defenders in the Premier League. Football in England appears to be a different sport, one that is more glitzy and affluent, as some of the best clubs in the world compete there.
Beating the Premier League defenders will be a massive challenge for Haaland, but his overall technical quality has proved that he is capable of dribbling past any defensive wall; he is physically built and not afraid to confront any obstacle. Haaland’s ability to position himself in spaces wherever possible and his awareness of finding spaces in open play or counter-attacks are excellent. He charges into the perfect area once he finds it.
The Norwegian superstar’s link-play is outstanding; he is an expert at “give and go” football. After passing the ball, he always bursts into the channels with his signature out-to-in sprint, making it difficult for defenders to track him. He’s a good all-rounder who will fit in well in English football now that he has more time to refine his skills in the Premier League.
Haaland under Pep Guardiola
Guardiola once said “ if you are a good player it’s good but if you play with a coach you become the best” this is what we are going to witness in upcoming years. There is no doubt that Haaland will thrive under Pep’s supervision; he will play up front as a number nine for Man city. Pep’s plan will be caught by Haaland’s foot, as Pep has been hunting for a top finishing striker since Sergio Aguero left the club.
Pep Guardiola’s game-making strategy will suit Erling Haaland because Man City is a possession-obsessed team that relies on offensive midfielders rather than wingers to create chances. City uses passing triangles and rondos to force the opponent to open up, and once they do, players like Sterling and Gabriel Jesus rush into those spaces.
Now imagine Erling Haaland in that striker role for Pep Guardiola; his movement in the box is phenomenal. He’s huge, tall, and a perfect fit for headers. Haaland managed 7.91 touches per game in the attacking penalty area, and Guardiola always prefers playing more low crosses; this is where Haaland can be available for tapping the ball in the net.
Another important factor that can bring success for Haaland and Manchester City is Haaland’s timing of the run. He makes a very clever movement off the ball and dribbles the defender off the ball very well, making it difficult for any defender to track the ball and target the player off the ball at the same time because Haaland doesn’t stop; he is continuous and curving in runs.
Opinion
This signing for Manchester City is going to be special because I have seen that Haaland is a monster when it comes to finishing, and what clicks me the most when I picture Haaland playing as a striker for Manchester Blues is Man City’s attacking midfielders they always rotate which will cause Haaland to drop deep and play as a false 09. He can literally smash some quality long-range shots when he is playing at that false 09 role outside the penalty box.
I believe he is a complete package for the Premier League, Haaland is ready for it, and he will guarantee goals for Guardiola.
