Erling Haaland Fires Back at Critics Who Downplay His Scoring Style

Erling Haaland reignited the debate surrounding his goal-scoring style after a wide-ranging conversation with Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer. Speaking ahead of his return to the Santiago Bernabéu—a stadium that demands perfection from Manchester City—the Norwegian striker addressed one of the most common criticisms he faces: that many of his goals are “tap-ins.”

Haaland didn’t hesitate. He said he loves when people minimize his goals because it means he’s exactly where a pure No. 9 should be. For him, there is no hierarchy between spectacular finishes and simple touches inside the box. Productivity is the only metric that matters. If City win the Premier League and he scores 20 goals, he considers that a job well done. If he reaches 30 or 35, he calls it an extraordinary season.

The striker also dismissed speculation about a possible departure from Manchester City. He signed a long contract because he wants to be part of a long-term project, and because England, he said, is “the home of football.” Haaland emphasized that he feels settled, focused, and convinced that City is the right place to continue growing.

He noted that he didn’t join the club only because of Pep Guardiola—something his father advised him against—but acknowledged that Pep played a major role by calling personally to explain his football vision and how many goals Haaland could score in his system.

Haaland described Guardiola as a relentless, detail-obsessed genius—the first to arrive and the last to leave—who has created a competitive culture that pushes every player further. That environment strengthened Haaland’s belief that his future should remain in Manchester.

The Norwegian also opened up about life outside football. He revealed that his home is filled with nonstop football, even when his partner has had enough of the sport. He avoids alcohol during the season and reflected on the multi-sport background he grew up with, from golf to handball and decathlon. For Haaland, his love of sport is inherited, and he hopes to reconnect with those passions later in life.