Striker was becoming more of an all-round Guardiola player by the end of last term but has reverted to cutting-edge specialist
As the players of Manchester City and RB Leipzig stood in the tunnel at the Red Bull Arena before kick-off on Wednesday night, the usual flip-chart of clenched jaws and event-horizon stares, Erling Haaland could be seen lolling out last in line from the City dressing room.
Haaland spotted the equally blond and chiselled Xaver Schlager, a teammate from RB Salzburg days, crept up behind him and enveloped him in a kind of laughing Nordic bro-hug, beaming with such tender, tactile bonhomie, you half-expected him to pick the Austrian up by the scruff, lick his ears, pick some briars out of his fur and take him back to his ice cave.
Written by Barney Ronay
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2023/oct/07/pared-back-but-potent-haaland-manchester-city-still-key-point-of-contrast-with-arsenal under the title “Pared-back but still potent, Haaland remains point of contrast with Arsenal | Barney Ronay”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
