Haaland Criticism Unwarranted – Man City Forward Proves His Worth
In April, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane made a controversial statement on Sky Sports, claiming that while Erling Haaland was "the best in the world in front of goal," his general play was "almost like a League Two player." Keane's comments came after Manchester City's 0-0 home draw with Arsenal on 31 March, which left Pep Guardiola's side third in the table, three points behind leaders Liverpool with nine games to go.
Guardiola and Sutton Defend Haaland
Pep Guardiola swiftly responded to Keane's remarks by labeling Haaland as the "best striker in the world." Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton also dismissed Keane's criticism, calling it "total nonsense."
"He was brought in for a specific role," Sutton said. "To degrade him and suggest he is a lower league player is unfair on Erling Haaland."
Haaland's Form Rebounds
The draw with Arsenal marked a rare dry spell for Haaland, who went five games without a goal for club and country. However, he quickly silenced his critics by finishing the season with nine goals in seven league games.
"He had a dip in form that lasted about twelve and a half minutes," joked former England captain Gary Lineker on Match of the Day. "Everyone was saying 'he's not the same,' but I knew it would change quickly."
Haaland's ability to bounce back from criticism and continue performing at the highest level reaffirms his status as one of the world's top strikers. Despite facing a brief goal drought, his exceptional goal-scoring prowess and key role in Manchester City's success remain undeniable.
Playground Numbers: Haaland's Remarkable Goal-Scoring Stats
Erling Haaland's 27 Premier League goals this season have been nothing short of extraordinary. Of these, 25 were scored from inside the penalty area, with four coming from headers and seven from the penalty spot.
Even when excluding penalties, Haaland led the Premier League in scoring with 20 goals, outpacing Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and his Manchester City teammate Phil Foden by one goal each.
"All the best strikers in the history of the game – outside maybe Andy Cole – have taken penalties," former Manchester City and England forward Daniel Sturridge told Sky Sports. "Haaland's numbers... that's stuff you do when you're at school. It's a goal a game. That's not what you do in the Premier League in your second season. We have to give him the utmost respect and credit for what he has done."
Second-Half Dominance
Seventeen of Haaland's 27 goals were scored in the second half of matches, with 12 of these goals coming between the 61st minute and the final whistle. His efficiency is unmatched; Haaland averaged a goal every 26 touches, a remarkable 12 touches clear of any other player in the league.
Left-Footed Excellence
Haaland scored 20 Premier League goals with his left foot this season, marking only the third time in league history a player has scored 20 or more left-footed goals in a season. Notably, Haaland also achieved this feat last season with 23 left-footed goals.
Historical Comparisons
With an average of a goal every 85 minutes in his Premier League career, Haaland matches the highest rate in league history alongside Richard Walker, who scored two goals in six games for Aston Villa. This season, Haaland averaged a goal every 95 minutes, second only to Aston Villa's Jhon Duran, who averaged a goal every 92 minutes among players with five or more goals.
Hat-Tricks and Beyond
Haaland scored two Premier League hat-tricks this season, including a four-goal haul against Wolves on May 4. He finished the season with 41 goals for club and country, including five goals against Luton in the FA Cup.
In addition to his goal-scoring prowess, Haaland provided five Premier League assists this season. Sturridge believes there is even more to come from Haaland, offering a warning to City's title rivals for the next season.
"Haaland will only get better," Sturridge said.
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