Towering presence, rapid pace, freakish power: How Manchester City’s Erling Haaland terrorises defences

With 13 goals in 8 appearances already , it is evident that Pep Guardiola has been handed a goal-scoring machine this season.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates scoring their first goal. REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo.

There’s something inevitable about Erling Haaland. The colossal Manchester City striker has started life in the Premier League like a house on fire. On Sunday, he will face Manchester United in his very first Manchester derby, hoping to add to his tally of 11 goals. But it might not be that easy. Standing across from him will be United’s new signing Lisandro Martinez. The duel might look like a mismatch on paper but the diminutive Martinez has stopped Haaland before when they played for Ajax and Dortmund respectively in last season’s Champions League. A mouthwatering duel awaits as United look to dent City’s momentum as they face in the Etihad on Sunday.

Towering. That’s the first word that flashes through the mind when one sees Erling Haaland line up for his team on the football pitch. Standing next to his teammates, professional athletes who are themselves giants in the land of mortals, Haaland’s almost mythical presence casts an aura that mesmerizes the world.

After getting used to the giant frame of the Norwegian standing across the field, the uninitiated defender would think that he would have the same presence as any tall striker who mostly stands in penalty boxes, waiting for the ball to be pinged towards his head in hope of rippling the back of the net. This is exactly when that freakish speed hits them and by the time the hapless defender realizes what has happened, Haaland is wheeling away in celebration.

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It’s like he sprouts extra limbs in an opponent’s penalty box, capable of scoring from any position or from any part of his body, be it his head, shins, or legs. Take his recent goal against Sevilla in the Champions League for example when a Kevin de Bruyne cross evaded everyone before a flying leg of the Norwegian found the ball and just caressed it into the net. Or the goal against Aston Villa, where he took flight, got his feet to a curling de Bruyne delivery just near the far post, and slotted it home.

Phenomenal from Erling Haaland 😮‍💨#UCL pic.twitter.com/eAh1GcxqFh

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 8, 2022

He is exactly the missing piece of the puzzle City needed after the departure of Sergio Aguero and it’s scary how fast the goal machine has adapted himself to Pep Guardiola’s style of play. He may have far fewer touches than his teammates but his every movement and every contribution on the ball results in a chance or a goal.

Eventually, these two entities will form a proper symbiotic relationship which will create havoc for defences around the world and may even get City the elusive Champions League crown. Despite a working adaptation to City’s gameplay, Haaland has net 12 times in all competitions. It’s scary to think what would happen when they play in total synergy.

If you build a perfect centre-forward from the ground up, chances are that he would look like Haaland. With his sizable frame, he can hold up play as well as involve his teammates. He also has rapid pace which helps him run behind defenders and can score goals with both feet.

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland celebrates scoring against Crystal Palace. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)

He often comes deep to help in the link-up play, feeds his teammate the ball, and turns around and runs towards the opponent’s goal in the hope of getting a return ball in behind the defence. This is one of his most lethal attributes. The defenders do not know what hit them when his freakish speed gets the better of them when a ball is played. Also, he does not run in a straight line but rather diverts his path to move towards the direction of the ball. This constant movement is a nightmare for defenders to deal with.

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Haaland is also a striker who uses his hands to indicate to his teammate exactly where to put the ball through and when he gets the space, however small it might be, he runs, occupies that space and takes the ball, while guarding it with his body. For example, in the Crystal Palace match, he pointed to Gundogan exactly where he wanted the ball, which was in between two central defenders. When it was played, he took the ball in his stride, shielded it from the defender who was on his back the whole time, and finished it calmly to complete his hattrick.

Doesn’t get much better than this! 🔵 #mancity pic.twitter.com/CrThLRSvXO

— Erling Haaland (@ErlingHaaland) August 31, 2022

Another exceptional attribute this 22-year-old goal machine possesses is the nature of his goalscoring. He can generate freakish power from his shots but more often than not it’s his placement that catches the eye. Coming one-on-one with an opponent goalkeeper, a lot of times strikers tend to overplay in the box like feinting the goalie and scoring or just chipping it over him.

Haaland, however, does not prefer taking that extra touch. He mostly finishes it with a low curling placement around the goalie or just takes a shot while carrying the ball without taking much time or touches in the box. This snapshot does not give his opponents enough time to react and more often than not the ball is found nestled at the back of the net.