Erling Haaland feels he is “living the dream” and has promised more goals as his amazing start at Manchester City continues.
The prolific Norwegian struck for a 13th time in just nine City appearances with a stunning late volleyed winner against his former club Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday.
His acrobatic effort from a swerving Joao Cancelo cross in the 84th minute secured a 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium and capped a fine late comeback after a long-range John Stones equaliser moments earlier.
“I think I have really long legs, that’s why I reached the ball, but it was a really good cross and a really good goal, I have to say,” said the 22-year-old.
“It’s quite nice. At the end I’m living the dream and I am happy. More to come!”
Until then Haaland had largely been kept quiet by his former team-mates in the Group G encounter.
After a drab first half, Dortmund went ahead with a well-taken header from the impressive Jude Bellingham just before the hour.
9 games
13 goals@ErlingHaaland
🔵 2-1 🟡 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/3gTUinRKQ3— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 14, 2022
City boss Pep Guardiola responded with a triple substitution and one of the fresh players, Phil Foden, immediately teed up Haaland, who shaved the outside of a post.
The leveller came 10 minutes from time when Stones, pushing further forward in his role as a makeshift right-back, chanced his luck from distance.
With the momentum having shifted, Haaland had the final say when he leapt and stretched out a leg to expertly guide home Cancelo’s pinpoint ball.
Haaland toned down his celebrations out of respect for his former club and admitted it was a poignant moment.
“It was a special match for me, emotional,” said Haaland, who scored 86 goals in 89 appearances for Dortmund before joining City in a £51million deal this summer.
“But for me I had to focus, I had to be ready for the things that I have to do against my former team. It is a football game.
“Of course it was emotional but it was a nice game.”
City defender Manuel Akanji, who followed Haaland from Dortmund to Manchester at the end of last month, also expects plenty more from the striker.
The Switzerland international said: “I’m not surprised anymore what he can do. I think he can score any type of goal.
“What a cross from Joao and, obviously, he is there where he needs to be and it was a fantastic goal.
“I think he can keep going like this. He just needs to work hard, keep his head down and work every day.”
The result gave City a three-point advantage over Dortmund at the top of the group ahead of their back-to-back matches against FC Copenhagen next month.
Akanji said: “It was a really big win. We’ve set the tone that we are now leader of this group but the work doesn’t stop. We need to keep on going.”
