Erling Haaland said missing the World Cup was “annoyance and motivation” that drove him “a bit crazy” after becoming the first player to score 20 Premier League goals before January, scoring twice in Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Leeds. Elland Road.
The summer signing from Borussia Dortmund, who missed out on Qatar 2022 with Norway, has scored three goals in two games for City since club football resumed after a six-week World Cup break.
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By scoring his 20th Premier League goal in just his 14th league game for City, Haaland has become the fastest player to reach the 20-goal mark in Premier League history.
And after the win against Leeds – his hometown – Haaland said watching the World Cup from home has motivated him to do even better at City.
“I’ve been at home, a bit angry that I haven’t been to the World Cup,” Haaland said. “I recharged my batteries.
“Watching others score goals to win games at the World Cup triggered, motivated and fired me up. I’m hungrier and more ready than ever.
“To be honest, I get really p—-d [when I miss a chance]” Haaland said. “That’s the truth. But when I miss, I want to score even more goals. It’s a funny thing – when I score one goal, it feels so good that I want to score another goal, so that’s positive.”
No player has ever scored 40 goals in a Premier League season – Alan Shearer and Andy Cole jointly hold the record with 34 goals in a season – but Haaland is now on course to break that mark. He added that he has a target goal for the season, but insisted that he will keep it private until he achieves it.
“I have a goal, but I can’t say it,” Haaland said. – I just said in the dressing room that I could have scored five goals, but the most important thing is that we won.
“For me, a striker, I have to score more goals. I could have scored a few more goals, but that’s life and I have to train more.”
Haaland refused to celebrate every time he scored at Elland Road. The 22-year-old was born in Leeds when his father Alfie played for the team and Erling said the club holds a special place in his heart.
“My dad and mom were in the stands today,” Haaland said. “It’s special. I’m happy – this is a special moment in my career.
“When I was young, I had Eirik Bakke’s shirt and my dad’s shirt in my room. In my wildest fantasy, I couldn’t imagine being at Elland Road and scoring for Manchester City against Leeds.”
