Andy Cole has come out in defense of Erling Haaland and has backed the Manchester City star to break his goal record this season. Haaland has been a sensation in the Premier League since his £52 million move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, scoring an incredible 34 goals this season, with 28 coming in the league. Despite his impressive tally, some pundits like Jamie Carragher have suggested that Haaland is proving to be an awkward fit at the Etihad, with Pep Guardiola’s side trailing Arsenal in the league despite the Norwegian’s exploits. However, Cole believes that criticism of Haaland is nonsense considering his tally and that he is a dead cert to scoop this season’s Golden Boot award, regardless of whether City win the title or not.
Cole also reckons Haaland is a shoo-in to break his record of 34 goals in a single season, set with Blackburn Rovers in the 1993/94 campaign. He said that people say Haaland shouldn’t have signed for Man City because he doesn’t fit in, but if he’s got 27 goals by February and everyone’s telling him that he’s made the wrong move, what’s the right move then? Cole added that Haaland has gone to clubs, scored goals, is far beyond anyone else in the Premier League for scoring goals, and has made the wrong move. He questioned how Haaland doesn’t fit if he’s got 27 goals so far by the end of February but doesn’t get involved in the play.
Cole believes that there is no need to talk about getting involved and doing other things because it’s as simple as that. He thinks that it’s a crazy conversation to have. Cole’s comments come after Carragher suggested that Haaland joined the wrong club and that he would have been better off going to a team like Liverpool or Chelsea. Carragher also said that Haaland is too similar to City’s current striker Gabriel Jesus and that he doesn’t fit into Guardiola’s system.
Haaland has been linked with a move away from City this summer, with Real Madrid and Barcelona reportedly interested in signing him. However, City are said to be determined to keep hold of their star striker and are willing to offer him a new contract worth £400,000 per week. The club sees Haaland as a key part of their future plans and believes that he can help them win multiple titles in the coming years.
Haaland’s performances this season have been nothing short of sensational, and he has established himself as one of the best strikers in world football. His combination of pace, power, and finishing ability has made him a nightmare for opposition defenders, and he has shown that he can score all types of goals. If he continues his current form, there is no doubt that he will break Cole’s record and become one of the greatest goal scorers in Premier League history.