NafisaErling Haaland’s “Tough” Life: Wolves Striker Sheds Light on the Pressure Facing the Manchester City Star
Manchester City’s prolific striker Erling Haaland, widely regarded as the face of the club’s unprecedented success since his arrival in 2022, leads a life far from the glamour many imagine, according to Wolves forward and fellow Norwegian international Jørgen Strand Larsen.
Haaland’s impact at Manchester City has been nothing short of transformative. In his debut season, the 23-year-old shattered goalscoring records, spearheaded the team to a historic treble, and delivered the long-awaited UEFA Champions League trophy to the Etihad Stadium. Expectations for the striker to replicate his feats have only intensified in subsequent campaigns, but with success comes relentless scrutiny.
Despite a slight dip in form during his second season—largely attributed to a foot injury over the winter months—Haaland’s consistency in front of goal helped City secure a fourth consecutive Premier League title. However, this season has proven to be even more challenging. While Haaland has still managed an impressive 20 goals across all competitions, opponents have begun employing heavy man-marking tactics, and City’s overall chance creation has dipped, making life tougher for the Norwegian superstar.
In an interview with The Times, Strand Larsen shared his thoughts on the pressure that comes with Haaland’s position in the footballing world. “I’m happy to see someone else (being the) poster boy (of Norway) so I don’t need to do it,” he remarked. “I think Erling’s life is really tough. Everyone dreams about his life and how it is, but it’s also tough because everywhere you go, you need to score a goal every game, otherwise there’s going to be pressure on you. The guy is just amazing.”
Strand Larsen added, “How he handles pressure, how he just keeps on going, (whether) it’s going good or bad, it’s just amazing to see. He’s a really good example.”
Haaland’s next challenge comes in the FA Cup third round, with League Two side Salford City set to visit the Etihad on Saturday. Whether Pep Guardiola will rest his star forward remains to be seen, especially with key players like Oscar Bobb still sidelined and no natural backup striker available. Guardiola has occasionally turned to James McAtee and Phil Foden in a false-nine role, but Haaland remains City’s talisman.
Guardiola is expected to provide further insight into his squad plans during his pre-match press conference on Friday, as Manchester City prepare to refocus on their FA Cup campaign amidst their packed fixture schedule.
.
Nafisa
