A Manchester City weapon is continuing to evolve as a player | OneFootball

Erling Haaland has begun the 25/26 season in impressive fashion. He has scored 12 goals in 9 appearances after his goal yesterday, which helped Manchester City clinch a 1-nil win over Brentford. Haaland’s goalscoring prowess has never been in question. But what stood out yesterday, outside of his powerful goal, was his leadership and ability to get back defensively and help his team. Erling Haaland is continuing to evolve as a player, and that has been clear to see at the beginning of the 25/26 season.

Erling Haaland’s overall performance was key to helping Manchester City beat Brentford.

A simple ball through the heart of the Brentford defence from Josko Gvardiol allowed Erling Haaland the opportunity to give Manchester City the lead yesterday in the 9th minute of the match. Haaland overpowered Sepp van den Berg to get into a goalscoring position at the GTech Community Stadium. From that point onwards, it was a formality that Haaland would beat Caoihim Kelleher in the Brentford goal. He did exactly that to give City a lead they’d never relinquish. If one goal summed up the package that is Erling Haaland as a player, his goal yesterday was it. His physical strength allowed him to muscle Sepp van den Berg out of the play. His finish was too powerful for Kelleher to keep out. It was the quintessential Erling Haaland goal.

Outside of his goals, Erling Haaland’s overall performance was key to his team picking up a vital three points yesterday. Haaland got back defensively to help his team snuff out the threat of Brentford’s long throws. He was also strong in the air when Brentford had corners. This trait of Haaland’s has grown this season, and it does seem that being a leader has inspired Erling Haaland. He is now helping lead Manchester City’s press and is a key part of City’s set-piece defence. The obsession from some over how many touches Haaland has during a game remains, but his overall play and influence are growing, which has been clear to see at the beginning of the 25/26 season.

Manchester City’s number nine believes he is in the form of his life.

Speaking after Manchester City’s win over Brentford, Erling Haaland was asked if he felt that he was in the form of his life. The Norwegian international believes that he is to start the new season. He also revealed that having a young family allows him to switch off from football. He explained: “You can say so, I’ve never felt better than I do now. So yeah, you can say so. I think it’s about preparation first of all, getting ready for the games. You can be physically ready, but you need to be mentally ready as well.”

“And to be honest, I think with a kid, it makes me even better because I actually disconnect more than ever. I don’t think of football at all, which sometimes when you’re younger, you think of this and that and maybe worry a little bit about things. But when I go home, I relax even more, so I think I need to give a shoutout to my son!”

Erling Haaland also revealed that his battle with Sepp van den Berg inspired him. The Brentford defender motivated City’s number-nine, and it set Haaland up to score Manchester City’s winner, and it also lit a fire in him for yesterday’s match. The Norwegian international explained: “First five minutes he just kept on pushing me, so I said alright, let’s have it. So then I started pushing him back.”

“For me, this is a proper goal. This goal for me is top. This is for me one of my better goals.”

“I think it helps me because I was a bit tired before the game, going into the game, I was thinking it’s going to be tough. Then after 10 seconds, he started pushing me, and it motivates me.”

“All praise to him, honestly, he made me want to do that.”

Summary.

Erling Haaland’s growth as a player has stood out so far this season. He is still banging in the goals, but he is also displaying real leadership qualities, and he is fast becoming an inspiring presence for his team. Whether through his goals or with his willingness to help out all over the pitch Haaland is a much more pronounced weapon for Manchester City which seems a remarkable thing to say given what he has already achieved at the club.