To the West Ham United defenders preparing to face him, Erling Haaland has recently been put in some extra training sessions after practice. This might not be the news that Konstantinos Mavropanos and Max Kilman were hoping to hear.
With hat-tricks in more than 10 percent of his Premier League matches and already scoring four goals this season, Haaland has recognized the importance of perfecting his game by dedicating more time to training. Last year, he was plagued by hip and ankle issues that limited his ability to work on the fundamental aspects of his game.
Following an extended summer break, Haaland now feels better than ever. Despite some disagreements with Pep Guardiola during the pre-season tour regarding his work ethic, he is looking more polished now than he has in the past year.
City is taking advantage of any available time in their schedule to provide Haaland with additional training to further refine his skills. After just two games, he is well on his way to reaching the Golden Boot standard set in previous Premier League seasons.
Erling Haaland netted three goals to help Manchester City secure a 4-1 victory over Ipswich this past Saturday.
Striker Haaland, 24, was seen smiling with City manager Pep Guardiola after being substituted from the game. Guardiola praised his dedication to improving, mentioning how Haaland stays after training to work on his skills, which was not the case last season due to his physical condition. Even though Haaland had a successful season with 27 league goals, City expects even more from him.
Guardiola wants Haaland to become a dominant force on the field, showcasing his strength and aggressiveness. He values Haaland’s defensive contribution and work rate, emphasizing the importance of connecting defensively to be effective offensively. Guardiola highlighted how Haaland’s body language can intimidate opponents and create opportunities for the team to press high.
Despite Haaland’s recent goal against Ipswich Town displaying confidence, City still faced challenges during the game and introduced Ilkay Gundogan to strengthen the team. Gundogan, who observed City during his break, commended Haaland’s attitude and behavior, emphasizing his positive impact on the team. As a supporter of Guardiola’s coaching philosophy, Gundogan believes Haaland’s main focus should be maintaining his performance levels and scoring goals to benefit the team and himself.
Haaland has netted an impressive total of 67 goals in just 68 matches in the Premier League, showcasing his skills with seven hat-tricks under his belt.
