2 weeks ago
When Roy Keane called Erling Haaland "almost League Two level" aft Manchester City drew 0-0 pinch Arsenal, nan guardant had not scored successful 5 matches and City had grounded to people successful a Premier League crippled astatine nan Etihad Stadium for nan first clip since October 2021.
The Premier League title remained retired of City's grasp arsenic past leaders Liverpool sat 2 points clear of Arsenal and 3 up of nan Blues.
But since that disappointing consequence connected 31 March, Pep Guardiola's broadside person won six convention matches connected nan bounce and are now 1 constituent down frontrunners Arsenal, having played 1 crippled less.
And Haaland, 23, has performed a starring domiciled successful nan resurgence, scoring 7 goals successful 4 convention matches, including 4 against Wolves successful a 5-1 triumph connected Saturday.
The Norwegian is not only responding brilliantly connected nan pitch, he's composed disconnected it too.
Asked astir Keane's comments aft his side's triumph astatine Wolves, he told Viaplay: "I don't really attraction that overmuch astir that man, truthful that's each right."
Keane has history pinch nan Haaland family, having injured Erling's begetter Alf-Inge pinch a mediocre tackle successful a Manchester derby successful 2001.
Speaking arsenic a pundit connected Sky Sports aft nan tie against Arsenal, Keane said of Haaland: "The levels of his wide play is truthful poor, and not conscionable today. His wide play for specified a player, it is truthful poor, I deliberation he has to amended that, he's almost for illustration a League Two player."
Ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards backed up Keane, adding Haaland's link-up play was "non-existent" against nan Gunners.
But against Wolves connected Saturday Richards sang Haaland's praises.
"Since he came backmost from injury, there’s a new-found confidence," he told Sky Sports.
"His all-round wide play is nan point I’m astir impressed with. He is still a young player, he will improve."
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp agreed, saying Haaland was "a phenomenon" and "an animal successful beforehand of goal".
"He wants to destruct teams," he added. "The feline is conscionable built wholly differently."
Haaland's first and 3rd goals were composed penalties, coming either broadside of a thunderous headed decorativeness astatine nan backmost post.
He had his hat-trick wrapped up earlier nan half-time whistle - his sixth successful conscionable his 63rd lucifer successful nan league.
And he netted a deserved 4th successful nan 54th infinitesimal aft he raced towards goal, trim wrong connected to his near ft and coiled a thunderous changeable into nan acold corner.
The Norwegian now has 25 Premier League goals for nan play and is 5 clear of Alexander Isak and Cole Palmer successful nan Golden Boot standings.
