Manchester City forward Erling Haaland confessed that he enjoyed playing his PlayStation before playing on the field. He said gaming helped to ease his nerves ahead of a match. 

He initially shared that he does not have any particular routine. “I try not to think too much before a game,” said Haaland.

However, he admitted that his preferred pre-match activity is the football console game EAFC (formerly known as FIFA). “Normally, the night before a game, I play on my PlayStation and try and relax as much as I can,” he said.

“I don’t do anything special. I like to score with myself on EAFC24, that’s about it. I don’t do anything special, I just try and relax and look forward to the game.”

Haaland’s future ambitions

The 23-year-old Norwegian footballer also shared his future ambitions. He aimed to replicate his stellar performance from the previous season while scoring more goals and securing extra trophies.

“Now I know how it is to win the Champions League and the Premier League. I would love to do it again. I will try to do my best and I want to help the team to make it happen,” he said.

 

Last season, he made a stunning English Premiere League (EPL) debut by winning the Treble with City and scoring 36 goals in 38 matches, setting a new record for goals. Haaland also became the fastest player to achieve 50 goals in the EPL with only 48 appearances.

After winning the Champions League, FA Cup, and Premier League titles with City, Haaland revealed that his favorite was the Champions League victory. “If I have to pick one, it’s the Champions League. The feeling when I won, that was unreal,” he said.

Return from injury

Halaand has been through an injury break for months, last playing in a match against Aston Villa on December 6. He suffered from a foot injury and missed ten games with Manchester City. 

However, his ambition to win the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship Cup doesn’t seem impossible, as he appeared at the Man City – Burnley match on January 31. He was welcomed by a big ovation from Man City fans at the Etihad Stadium. 

Haaland played as a substitute for Kevin De Bruyne in the 71st minute and made a clever assist to his teammate, Julian Alvarez, giving Man City its second goal. The match concluded with City’s 3-1 win.

With Haaland’s comeback, alongside Alvarez and De Bruyne on the team, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has plenty to consider for the season’s final months. Guardiola has a lot of options now with his star players ready to play.

Guardiola assures City fans on his contract

Guardiola recently revealed that he has no plans to step down as the manager of Man City. Having been with City since 2016, his contract expires soon at the end of the next season. He said he has everything a manager could dream of and feels supported by the club’s hierarchy. 

The 53-year-old manager feels no urgency regarding the contract extension, believing there is sufficient time to consider the future. “Many things are involved and extending after two years is not the same as extending after nine, it’s completely different. But still, I am sitting here, and I am OK,” he said.

He emphasizes a more relaxed approach in his current management stage, where he can disconnect from football, contrasting to his earlier years as Barcelona’s manager when he felt constant pressure. Guardiola acknowledges that having quality time for oneself is crucial for a manager’s well-being.

Guardiola has achieved significant success with City, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League. He believed winning gives him more energy and notes the team’s resilience in facing challenging opponents this season.

Published by HOLR Magazine.