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The Manchester City striker is the cover star for British GQ's February edition.
Manchester City’s superstar striker Erling Haaland has been featured on the cover of the British GQ magazine’s February edition.
The Norwegian who turns 23 in July, has been the most productive young striker in the world since sealing a mega-money move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City in the summer of 2022.
Haaland has already netted an incredible 21 times in just 16 starts for the defending champions in the Premier League halfway through the season.
The prolific finisher is already on his way to breaking the record for the highest number of goals scored by a player in the Premier League in a single season ever.
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The current record is held by former England internationals Alan Shearer and Andy Cole who boast a record of 34 goals.
Haaland’s GQ Interview
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The Man City striker opened up on his thoughts about his incredible goalscoring abilities.
“I try to be a bit more smart, a bit more sharp, ahead of the people I play against,” Haaland tells GQ, trying to explain his talent in his own words.
“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 (he mimes a body fake to his right, before cutting left).”
Haaland’s admiration of other strikers
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The City striker who is still in his early 20s shared his admiration for other strikers, but admitted that being so young is not a problem in today’s world where conditioning and physical care allow players to improve as they reach their late 30s.
Haaland cited Ballon d’Or winner, Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema: “Look at Benzema, he is 35 now and I think even better.
“So in 12 years I hope to be even better than I am now.” Haaland said.
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He also admitted he has studied strikers in order to improve himself “from Zlatan to Van Persie to Vardy to Agüero, Messi, Negredo, Edin Dzeko, Balotelli”, he submitted.
The Norwegian, in his interview, admitted even though he boasts an exceptional mentality, he also likes to ignore people and focus on himself, not in terms of talent.
“Sometimes I’m really like… I don’t know the word in English...Not in this world.” he said.
Here are some more photos from his GQ shoot below:
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Haaland’s Champions League ambitions
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The forward has scored 21 goals in 17 games so far this season, currently leading the race in the Premier League Golden boot.
Haaland’s signing for Manchester City has already been seen by many as the final piece of Pep Guardiola’s jigsaw as they continue their ultimate quest towards winning the UEFA Champions League trophy that has evaded them over the last seven years.
Despite the club’s incredible wealth, they are yet to taste European success; last season, for example, Real Madrid outclassed them dramatically in the semi-finals last May.
Haaland tried to explain the success Los Blancos enjoyed last year.
“Sometimes, like the game against Real Madrid last year, when you see the goal Rodrygo scores – where Asensio heads the ball and misses it, and it hits Rodrygo’s leg and goes in the goal – sometimes I think actually there is a God up there who decides these things,” he said.
“This mentality kind of thing, Madrid knowing that they’ve won it before? I don’t know if that’s a thing. Maybe.
“I will try to do everything in my power to win trophies here with Manchester City and to try to be the game changer.
“ My goal is to win the Champions League, hopefully.” he added.
Erling Haaland Manchester City Form & Goals 2023
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Since arriving at the Etihad, the 22-year-old striker has netted 33 times in 30 appearances creating 4 assists in that period.
The 22-year-old Norwegian is widely regarded as one of the most prolific young strikers in the world and could break a host of goalscoring records in the Premier League this season, with 20 games left to play.
City’s no.9 is expected to action for the Manchester giants when they host Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Wednesday night, January 19, 2023
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