Erling Haaland: Inside Manchester City’s Star's Mind, Love for Ibrahimovic, Messi and Rise to Stardom

• Erling Haaland has revealed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero are some of the strikers he looked up to while growing up.
• Haaland has settled in well in the Premier League and is on the course of setting a new top-scorer record.
• The Norwegian striker will be hoping to lead Manchester City to their maiden Champions League title.

Erling Haaland's rise to the top has been mercurial and quick. At barely 22 years of age, he is already dominating lists of the best strikers in the world with his ridiculous statistics in front of goal a clear testament of his vast potential.

The Manchester City star has been featured as the British GQ cover for the month of January. He has lifted the lid on a couple of issues as the Citizens folklore looks towards him to break the Champions League curse.

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The Norwegian has built a reputation of 'ghosting' during games but the minimal touches he gets are usually devastating. His muscular frame has so far proven to be imposing to the abrasive and quick Premier League defenders.

Haaland explains that his mental frame is one of his key aspects in scoring goals and beating defenders no matter how alert they are.

"I try to be a bit smarter, a bit sharper, ahead of the people I play against. I try to be a bit more turned on in my head. Because if I do that, if I get one second, then I might be able to finish and he cannot block, for example. They think I go here, and I go there."

Haaland's records in the Premier League

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He has so far scored 21 goals in the Premier League. His goal return after the World Cup break hasn't been that promising but belief is still rife that he will beat Mohamed Salah's record of 32 goals in 38 games.

Haaland's confidence is the standout feature for the striker who was born in England before his parents moved back to Norway where he trained with Bryne FK.

"I still try to do exactly the same things I did when I was 13 in my hometown. I still do exactly the same runs. Show clips of me at 13 years old and you will see exactly the same thing.”

He has scored on his debut in seven different competitions for all the clubs he has been in. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi and Jamie Vardy and Sergio Aguero are some of the strikers Haaland learnt to build his game from while growing up.

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He has also credited Norwegian legend and former Manchester United Head Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for shaping his game.

Guardiola calls for more Haaland involvement

Sports Brief has also reported that football fans had hoped Manchester City would be blazing this season after the acquisition of Norwegian goal machine, Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund. However, things have not gone entirely to plan.

Pep Guardiola oversaw two title-winning seasons playing without a recognized striker for choice over want, as he had the likes of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus at his disposal in those years.

Haaland seemed to have slotted in seamlessly, having scored 21 Premier League goals this season, but Man City are now eight points behind league leaders, Arsenal at the middle of the season.