Erling Haaland has taken the Premier League by storm since swapping Borussia Dortmund for Manchester City in the summer window.
The Norway international made his debut for the English champions in their Community Shield defeat to Liverpool.
Since then, the striker has either scored or assisted in every match for Manchester City this season. He has 19 goals and three assists from 12 games in all competitions, which includes three hat-tricks in the league.
The 22-year-old has received praise from all corners following his prolific start to his life in England. Among them is former goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares, who believes it will be difficult for the opposition players to stop Pep Guardiola’s man from finding the back of the net on a regular basis.
“He’s an animal. He has a lot of conditions and is very difficult to stop, with that size and power. Take two strides and a header or a shot comes at you and puts you in the lead,” Cañizares told Radio Marca.
“He is not slow, he has a goal and talent. He is a footballer that the defenders do not want to see. I have always had him at the same level as Mbappé, but now he is showing that he is above him.”
“And in the Champions League not everyone scores goals. You see the numbers of great strikers in Europe, and it has cost them: Luis Suárez, Lewandowski… And he gives the sensation that he plays against children.”
The former Valencia goalkeeper is of the belief Haaland’s goal scoring record can help Guardiola solve several issues at Manchester City.
“I imagine Guardiola will say that they have hit the target, because he solves a thousand mistakes that he may have in games,” Cañizares explained.
“He is a Joker, like when he had Messi at full level at Barça. They give you cards, and he says let’s see what I’ve hit, double pairs but mine always has a Joker and it’s already a three of a kind and I already beat you.”
“And that happens when you play with a guy who makes so many differences. And Guardiola already has two: Messi and Haaland. Haaland rules in Europe.”
“Haaland has to confirm this season. City already know what it’s like to lose a final and I’m of the opinion that in sport before you win, you have to lose, you have to have that drink. Then there are exceptional things and that is extraordinary.”
“But for me, PSG or City already have a better chance of winning the Champions League than they did five years ago when neither had reached a final.”
To date, Erling Haaland has 14 goals in eight Premier League games, including a hat-trick against Manchester United in the local derby at the weekend, which ended 6-3 in Manchester City’s favour.
