It was a surprise to see Erling Haaland take a few touches before composing himself to open the scoring for Manchester City in their 2-0 win against Chelsea.
Haaland could have just struck the ball first-time after Bernardo Silva toed the ball in his direction for him to score from inside the box.
But the £51 million man decided to take his time before picking his spot — a risky decision that could have cost him his first goal of the 2024/2025 Premier League season.
Ultimately, the Manchester City striker’s patience was rewarded against Enzo Maresca’s side.
After scoring a brace against Chelsea last season, the 24-year-old has added to his goal tally against them — with three goals in five league appearances against them.
Haaland now reveals his thought-process behind his goal against Chelsea
Pep Guardiola would be over the moon with his star striker after Sunday’s result.
Considering the Leeds-born marksman is one of his most important players, it must have done his confidence wonders to have opened his account with a crucial goal in a big game.
The Norwegian international could now go on a goalscoring run after a fine evening for him at Stamford Bridge.
After Manchester City defeated Chelsea, Haaland explained why he took a few touches before taking his goal.
The two-time Premier League winner told Sky Sports: “[Robert] Sanchez made a great save against me last season and stays on his line so that’s why I took extra touches, he then rushes out and I knew what to do. It had been irritating me for a long time so it was a perfect goal.”
Shows the attention to detail Man City striker Erling Haaland goes into
The fact that Haaland made a mental note of Robert Sanchez’s habit of staying on the line after he saved one of his close-range efforts during City’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea shows how much he wishes to improve at all times.
As a result, the former Borussia Dortmund frontman’s decision to take a few touches prompted Sanchez to rush off his line and provide him a better angle to lob the ball over him.
The attention to detail Haaland applied in this very instance just showcases his standards as an elite player and it is due to such minute facets that he is the player he is.
Having played two seasons of Premier League football against most of the league’s goalkeepers, the City phenomenon will perhaps know exactly where to target their weakness; another weapon that can be added to his seemingly endless artillery as a striker.
