Erling Haaland scored twice to help Manchester City beat Tottenham on Tuesday night, but the Norwegian has now revealed he came close to refusing to take an injury-time penalty
Erling Haaland has admitted that he almost refused to take the penalty that ensured Manchester City beat Tottenham on Tuesday night.
Haaland scored twice to help City claim a win that sent them to top spot in the Premier League. His second goal came from the penalty spot, after Phil Foden had been brought down by Pedro Porro in the first minute of injury time.
The Norwegian smashed home his spot-kick into the top left corner, with Guglielmo Vicario diving low the opposite way. That goal was enough to make sure that City took home the three points.
But in what Haaland admitted was a ‘horrible’ atmosphere, the striker revealed he almost gave the ball to a team-mate. The Premier League’s top goalscorer pointed to tiredness as the reason behind almost stepping back.
“It was a bit horrible. We were nervous, it’s normal in these kind of games, but we won. That was the goal, I don’t care how we won, we won. I was really nervous [about the penalty], scared of course, but excited,” he said.
“It was about getting the ball in the back of the net. I stand with Ruben (Dias) and say: ‘I’m so tired’. I was so tired and it’s the first time I haven’t thought before taking a penalty kick. It was obviously a good thing.
“I just blew it into the net ceiling. I think it’s the best penalty I’ve ever taken. I was p***ed off, the only thing I focused on was shooting the ball into the goal. Relax, don’t think and focus on the next game.
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“Everyone knows the situation. It’s about not thinking too much and focusing on things to do and try to win. We came here to try to win and we won. Focus on the next game and try not to think too much. Let’s get all together and finish this.”
Haaland’s first goal came five minutes into the second-half, with Spurs threatening to cause an upset. Kevin de Bruyne set the striker up with a cutback, with former Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge hailing the duo’s partnership.
“This is what we are talking about when we speak about a telepathic relationship. I had this feeling with Coutinho or Suarez for sure where you just know your boy is going to be there,” he told Sky Sports.
“That is the corridor of uncertainty and that is the place as a centre forward you want the ball. How many goals have we seen Haaland score like this from De Bruyne. He knows that back stick area and knows that is where he is going to be.
“In this moment here, we are seeing guys who know where they are going to be. He doesn’t even look. He knows where his mate is going to be and he puts it in that area.”
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