New Manchester Metropolis striker Erling Haaland insists he doesn’t really feel any stress becoming a member of the Premier League champions.
he Norway worldwide, one of many hottest younger prospects in Europe, left Borussia Dortmund for Metropolis – the membership his father Alf Inge beforehand performed for – in a deal price £51million.
However regardless of the expectation the ahead, who turns 22 subsequent week, intends to take pleasure in himself.
Manchester Metropolis introduced new signings, Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez to supporters exterior the Etihad Stadium (Martin Rickett/PA)
Requested how he would method the problem he stated: “Like I’ve been doing my entire profession, attempt to take pleasure in each single minute, each second, strive to not suppose an excessive amount of.
“Overthinking is just not a superb factor for each human being. I simply attempt to calm down after I can and work arduous.”
On what he would convey to the Premier League, Haaland added: “Hopefully some extra high quality with me as a striker I wish to have enjoyable, when I’ve enjoyable I rating objectives, I smile, I take pleasure in enjoying soccer, I smile quite a bit.”
When he was advised he was already the favorite to be subsequent season’s Premier League high scorer, the Norwegian stated: “A very powerful factor is to take pleasure in.”
Haaland inherits the Metropolis quantity 9 shirt vacated by the membership’s all-time main scorer Sergio Aguero, who left final summer time for Barcelona solely to be compelled into retirement by a coronary heart drawback.
It’s a shirt which is acquainted to him as he already has a match-worn shirt given to him by the Argentinian.
Overthinking is just not a superb factor for each human being. I simply attempt to calm down after I can and work arduousHaaland on how he’ll deal with the stress
“He’s a legend, top-of-the-line ever to play within the Premier League and I bear in mind quite a lot of objectives he scored, particularly the 93.20 purpose (which gained Metropolis’s first Premier League title in 2012), so I bear in mind quite a lot of objectives from him.”
Haaland is eager to comply with in his footsteps and lay down a legacy at Metropolis after a fast rise which has seen him be part of his fifth membership in nearly six years.
“I signed a five-year deal so we’ve got to begin there,” he stated when requested if now was the time to set down some roots.
He doesn’t, nonetheless, consider his progress is forward of schedule.
“In some methods but in addition not whenever you see how I’ve been performing,” he stated.
“It was a giant step going to Molde from my hometown membership, it was a a giant step going to Salzburg, Dortmund and now Metropolis nevertheless it has been going good.”
Whereas Metropolis have been dominant domestically, profitable the Premier League in 4 of the final 5 seasons, the Champions League has remained out of their attain.
Haaland was requested if he was the reply to Metropolis’s so-far fruitless quest for European membership soccer’s greatest prize.
“I stated it earlier than, the Champions League is my favorite competitors, so you’ve gotten the reply there,” he added.
“It’s a huge problem, it’s a new nation, a brand new league, new coach, new the whole lot, so it’s a huge problem however I understand how it’s to return to a brand new membership, I’ve accomplished it a few occasions earlier than. I’m actually trying ahead to it.
“I performed towards them within the Champions League final yr and also you see one thing on TV after which whenever you meet it’s utterly completely different.
“I didn’t contact the ball for 25 minutes and it’s like ‘(Ilkay) Gundogan please cease enjoying tiki-taka’.
“It’s a completely different stage how they play and that’s what I wish to be part of.”
Haaland has already made an impression on considered one of his new team-mates, goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, whose Bundesliga expertise with Arminia Bielefeld means he has been capable of watch his improvement at shut hand.
“His transition is absolutely excellent. Once I noticed him in Salzburg he was a bit skinny, now he’s a monster, together with his dimension, velocity, high quality in capturing and heading, he’s the total bundle which you can get,” stated the 29-year-old, who has arrived as back-up to Ederson.
Haaland is just not the one new ahead to hitch up for pre-season coaching this summer time, with Argentinian Julian Alvarez additionally arriving from River Plate having been loaned again to the Buenos Aires membership after signing a take care of Metropolis in January.
“Manchester Metropolis has quite a lot of historical past with Argentinian gamers. I got here right here to create my very own historical past, create my very own path and assist Metropolis attain the highest and proceed the success it has been having,” stated the 22-year-old.
