While many of his Manchester City teammates were busy playing international football over the summer, Erling Haaland spent his time helping his father chop wood. Haaland likely would have preferred to participate in the Euros with Norway, but since they didn’t qualify, his summer was instead filled with chores and relaxation.
This time off seems to have done wonders for him. Just two games into the season, Haaland has already scored four goals, including a hat-trick in Manchester City’s 4-1 win against Ipswich. This impressive start means he currently has twice as many goals as any other player, though it’s still early in the season.
Manager Pep Guardiola is enthusiastic about Haaland’s refreshed and hungry attitude. “I said a few weeks ago he feels better than previous seasons,” Guardiola commented after their victory at the Etihad Stadium. “I remember he said before he was still tired, but this season, without the Euros, he arrived really well. Of course, he cannot play all the games until the end of the season, but you know how important he is, scoring so many goals.”
Haaland has been the Premier League’s top scorer in each of his two seasons in England. He scored a remarkable 36 goals in the 2022-23 campaign and 27 goals last season, despite missing several games due to injury. Now, Haaland is just six goals away from reaching 100 goals for Manchester City, a remarkable feat considering he has only played 101 games for the club.
“The numbers are ridiculous,” said Guardiola. “He can compete in terms of goals with Ronaldo and Messi. It is an incredible strength for us, and we are very happy to have him. Hopefully, he can be here for many, many years.”
While Haaland rightfully grabbed the headlines, Saturday’s match also marked the return of a Manchester City legend. Former captain Ilkay Gundogan rejoined the club on Friday after spending a season at Barcelona. He received a hero’s welcome and a standing ovation when he came on in the second half.
Gundogan, who first joined City in 2016, is closely associated with the club’s success, having helped them win the Premier League five times during his initial tenure. Given his age, Gundogan is unlikely to feature as prominently as before, but Guardiola values his experience as City pursue an incredible fifth consecutive Premier League title.
“We know each other for many years, and he knows exactly what he needs to do,” Guardiola said. “I am very pleased he is back.”
Whether stepping off the team coach, warming up, or coming onto the pitch to chants of “Gundo’s coming home,” Gundogan always had a smile on his face, showing how much returning to City means to him.
“When I arrived a couple of days ago, I was already joking with the players, even before I signed the contract,” Gundogan shared. “It feels like I have never been away. It feels like home. I am so happy to play for this amazing club again. I am very proud to be back.”
