Erling Haaland is a lethal goalscorer, and it did not take him long to open his account for the new season for Manchester City on Sunday.
Haaland bagged the opening goal for Manchester City in their 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Haaland has now scored 91 goals in 100 appearances for City, which is a quite simply remarkable return.
Nobody really expected him to fail when he came to the club in a £51 million deal from Borussia Dortmund. But few probably anticipated he would be scoring quite at this rate.
Haaland’s goalscoring prowess has never been in doubt.
There is a stick some people like to beat Haaland with, and that is that he doesn’t have many touches. But that is just how it is for him at City.
After the win over Chelsea though, Micah Richards did talk about something Haaland could improve.
Micah Richards says Man City striker Erling Haaland can use his body better
- READ MORE: Man City superstar Erling Haaland now explains why he took a few touches before his goal vs Chelsea
The reason City signed Haaland was for him to score goals.
He can have as few touches as he likes. But ultimately Pep Guardiola wants him in that box and putting away chances.
Sometimes Haaland does drop deep in search of the ball though. And very often he is followed by a defender.
For Richards, the Norwegian could still be using his body better in some situations.
He said after the 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sky Sports: “When we ask the question about what could he improve on… because Man City always have the ball, he’s having to adapt his game.
“A lot of people are not giving him credit for that. When he was at Dortmund he was running 30, 40 yards, balls in behind all the time and slotting them.
“Now he’s had to adapt his game in the box as well. That’s what I think he needs credit for.
“If there was one thing where we could criticise him, we had the whole comments of Roy Keane calling him a League Two player.
“On the goal, Cucurella and he used his body – that’s what I think he can do better.
“He might not be able to come and do what you (Daniel Sturridge) did and get the ball and turn and pay it wide and all that stuff. But he can use his body better. Just hold it up, one touch and set off.
Haaland still young and still learning
It is remarkable to think Haaland is still only 24.
He has already achieved so much and has scored so many goals. But he’s still four or five years away from his peak and it’s scary to think of how much better he could be later in his career.
It is interesting to hear Richards comment on Haaland perhaps using his body better.
Obviously the Norwegian is a physical specimen, and we have seen him move many a Premier League defender aside with relative ease.
