By now, everyone has heard of Erling Haaland.
If you haven’t, we’re not really sure where you’ve been for the past few months and a bit, but the Norwegian forward has taken the footballing world by storm, first with RB Salzburg and then Borussia Dortmund.
However, it all started back in Norway, when he was coached by now Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, back when he was just beginning to regularly feature at Molde.
The player remembers one game in particular, when he scored four goals in 20 minutes against Brann, that he would describe as the turning point, if you will.
Speaking to Eurosport Norway, he said: “Yes, it’s quite interesting. In the days before, we trained on finishing. Not just crosses. I remember he taught me two quite simple rules about touch and such. I don’t have to slam the ball and destroy the goal and the keeper. It was at the back of my head, something new he told me and that I was practicing.
“Not that any balls went in the net, but at least I had it in my head after that training, so that was something he taught me in those days leading up to it. He’s taught me so much about being calm. Always be on the front foot, and get into situations where the ball will fall. That’s when you get the chance to score. So I give a lot of credit to him for that.”
As mentors go when it comes to coolly finishing one on ones and being in the right place and the right time, there are few better former players to learn from than the Manchester United manager, who made a career out of it.
Choosing to go to Dortmund instead of joining Solskjaer at Old Trafford, the 19-year-old had, before all football came to an abrupt stop, scored 40 goals in 33 appearances this season for both the Bundesliga side and Salzburg, as well as picking up nine assists.
