“I just hope” – Manuel Akanji explains what Erling Haaland has changed to further improve at Manchester City | OneFootball

Erling Haaland is now looking to involve himself more across Manchester City’s general game, according to teammate Manuel Akanji speaking on the Norwegian’s ongoing rise.

The 24-year-old is on track to record one of the finest goalscoring seasons in football history, having amassed nine goals in his opening four Premier League matches for Manchester City so far this season.

That tally of nine in four also featured back-to-back hat-tricks against Ipswich Town and West Ham United, followed up by a brace against Brentford in his most-recent outing, and an opening weekend goal away to Chelsea.

But while many are focussing on his goalscoring improvements in a Manchester City shirt this season, his teammates are noticing developments in his general play and support for teammates elsewhere on the pitch.

Speaking after the 2-1 win over Brentford on Saturday afternoon, Manuel Akanji – whilst struggling to explain how Haaland could possibly have improved further this season given his previous record – pointed out a noticeable change in the striker’s general performance.

“It’s hard to say as he’s been scoring so many goals for us since he joined but I think this season he is more involved in the game,” Akanji explained. “He’s holding up the ball really well for the team. But nine goals in four Premier League games too.

“I just hope he keeps scoring like this because he’s really good help for us. Even when it’s a tougher game, we just have to do our job in defence and know the guys up front will help us. I hope he can keep going.”

Akanji also revealed that he and the entire Manchester City squad, alongside wider support from the club as a whole, stood by and supported Erling Haaland in a challenging week following the passing of close family friend, Ivar Eggja.

“I mean that’s what a team is for, we stick together and try to help each other out,” said Akanji. “It was Erling in this moment but we try to help each other out, lift each other. It’s not just the team-mates, it’s the whole club.”

Akanji, Haaland, and the Manchester City squad will return to on-field match action against Inter Milan on Wednesday night, as the club takes on matchday one of the revamped UEFA Champions League.

A 36-team league phase has now replaced the traditional group stage format of the competition, with Manchester City eyeing the top-eight spots in the division that would ensure automatic qualification for the knock-out stage in 2025.