Last night, Thierry Henry was a guest on Monday Night Football – and the legend dished out some advice to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland around one area of his game.
It’s been another good season for Haaland, despite missing a period through injury.
The Norwegian superstar has plundered 28 goals in 31 games, and has helped to keep City in contention at the top of the Premier League. Five of those goals came last week against Luton Town in the FA Cup.
He hasn’t quite been as prolific as last season, and has missed several big chances. The miss against United before he did score late on was quite something.
But Haaland remains a serious threat in front of goal.
Despite this, Thierry Henry does see one thing that Haaland could improve…
Thierry Henry explains one area Erling Haaland can improve in for Manchester City
Last night ahead of Arsenal’s game with Sheffield United, Henry was analysing the Manchester Derby.
The legendary former striker looked at Haaland’s game, and he feels that there is still one aspect that he could improve.
He said on Sky: “If you don’t have anyone shielding that pass to you, so the two holding midfielders are in front of the two centre-backs. If not, they get killed. But that’s how ten Hag sees it. He sends them to mark the two 10s or the two eights. For me, if I’m a nine, that’s amazing. That ball can come to you with no one shielding it.”
“When that ball comes, Jonny Evans reads when Rodri is going to play that ball. Not Haaland. Those are the things that I think he can get better at. We’re not talking about him scoring because he is second to none.
“By losing that ball, you end up almost conceding a goal.
“Same thing here. There is a ball for City, he goes into between the two centre-backs. Evans has an eye on Stones because that’s not normal for him to be there. So he’s going to go. Once you (Haaland) see that, you make a run. You mentioned before, we mentioned Drogba, Viduka. If that ball came to Viduka he would have let that ball bounce and I remember that goal he scored against you guys and he turned and scored the other way.
“Those are the opportunities at times that Haaland doesn’t show.”
Henry did then pick out a clip of Haaland coming short in the second-half, and then brilliantly spinning Evans, branding him ‘unstoppable’ when he does that.
Good advice from Henry
If Thierry Henry feels there is somewhere you can improve, then you best listen up.
He was one of the best to ever do it, and arguably the greatest Premier League player of all-time, and Haaland should be grateful for this advice.
Haaland’s goalscoring is second to none, as Henry says.
But Henry essentially feels the former Borussia Dortmund man could still exploit the space better around him.
