Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Erling Haaland, Manchester City, Football, Premier League, Champions League, Pep Guardiola, Man City
James Taylor
Topics: Erling Haaland, Manchester City, Football, Premier League, Champions League, Pep Guardiola, Man City
Erling Haaland holds a world record holder outside of football, as the Manchester City forward continues his blistering start to the season.
Haaland has been prolific once again, scoring 15 goals in just 12 appearances for City so far this campaign.
The Norwegian has been outstanding since making the £51.2 million move from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, finding the back of the net 139 times in 158 games.
In January, he signed a new deal with the club that will keep him at the Etihad until 2034 - the year he turns 34.
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Having committed the peak years of his career in Manchester, City fans will continue to admire their talismanic forward for several seasons.
As well as being a goalscoring sensation, Haaland is an exceptional athlete, and he has demonstrated his physical prowess from a young age.
According to the Mirror, back in January 2006, when he was just five years old, he broke the world record for the longest standing long jump for his age, leaping an impressive 1.63m.
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His raw athleticism has directly translated into football, making him one of the most blistering players on the counter-attack.
During a match in 2020, while playing for Borussia Dortmund, he was clocked sprinting 60m in a staggering 6.64 seconds.
That time would have been fast enough to qualify for the World Indoor Athletics Championship two years earlier.
On an individual level, it already feels inevitable that Haaland will win the Premier League's golden boot.
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He has found the back of the net 11 times in the league so far, while Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo and Brentford's Igor Thiago trail on six.
However, Manchester City have been inconsistent this year, and have already lost three league games, most recently at Villa Park.
It means they currently trail the league leaders and title favourites Arsenal by six points.
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But, Pep Guardiola will not want to record a second trophyless season with Manchester City and will prioritise the cups.
City came from behind to defeat Swansea in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday night, with Haaland rested for the match.
They will now host Brentford in the next round, as Guardiola targets his fifth League Cup.
In the Champions League, City have made a strong start, pickung up seven points from a possible nine, with Haaland scoring in all three games.
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One issue that may arise for City is their over-reliance on the Norwegian forward.
Earlier this month, Guardiola addressed that concern: "At the same time, we cannot do good things with just Erling.
"Our wingers, attacking midfielders and the other players have to make a step up."