May 12th 2024.
Erling Haaland, the star player of Manchester City, recently made headlines when he was substituted after scoring four goals against Wolves. However, the Norwegian striker insists that his tantrum on the pitch was not because of Pep Guardiola's decision to take him off during the team's 5-1 victory last weekend.
Haaland's impressive performance against Wolves, scoring four goals and reaching a total of 25 goals in the Premier League this season, made him the top scorer in the league, surpassing his former teammate Cole Palmer at Chelsea. However, his chance to increase his goal tally was cut short when he was replaced by Julian Alvarez in the 82nd minute. Haaland was visibly upset as he exchanged words with Guardiola on the sidelines and threw a piece of strapping in anger as he walked to the substitutes bench, with fellow teammate Sergio Gomez looking on in confusion.
After the game, Guardiola downplayed Haaland's outburst and explained that the striker was frustrated with the number of fouls that went unpunished during the game. However, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane criticized Haaland for his behavior, calling him a "spoilt brat" and comparing it to Mohamed Salah's clash with Jurgen Klopp last month.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Keane said, "We saw Haaland yesterday being brought off, not too happy, behaving like a spoilt brat, but because they win the game and he scores goals it's almost forgotten about." He also added, "I think because the results haven't been going Liverpool's way, that's highlighted. But I fully expect Liverpool to turn up here today [against Tottenham], put in a good performance and let the manager leave in a few weeks on a high."
Haaland had remained silent about the incident in the days following the game. But in a recent interview with Men in Blazers, the Norwegian striker clarified that his frustration was not because of Guardiola's decision to take him off. He said, "I wasn't mad because of that. I was mad because of something completely different. It was nothing about that. I was super happy that Julian came on and scored as well. Of course, I would love to score more goals, but I wasn't mad or anything about getting subbed off. I would never be."
Keane has been one of Haaland's most vocal critics, even going as far as comparing his playing style to that of a League Two player after Manchester City's goalless draw with Arsenal earlier this season. However, the 20-year-old striker brushes off the criticism and says it is a part of his life. He said, "There has always been this discussion on how many times I should touch the ball, and when I score, no one speaks about this. But when I don't score, suddenly people start to mention my touches." Haaland also added, "I cannot control what people say about me. I just have to focus on what I should do on the pitch, and my job is not to be like Rodri, controlling the game. My focus is being in the box and finishing attacks for City."
The Norwegian international further emphasized that he does not care about what people say about him in the media. He said, "I don't care about what people say or anything. It's about focusing on helping the team to win." With his impressive performance on the pitch, Haaland has proven that he is a valuable asset to Manchester City and is determined to continue helping the team achieve their goals.
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