"Technique-wise, he's not good enough" - Pundit claims Erling Haaland is just a 'normal player' if one of his traits is removed
Dutch pundit Rafael van der Vaart has stated that Erling Haaland is a normal player if you take away his pace. These comments come after Haaland has failed to find the back of the net in his last two Premier League games.
The Cityzens have failed to register a win in their last seven fixtures across competitions. They have also lost four consecutive league matches, resulting in the worst run of results in Pep Guardioala's managerial career.
On the The LineUp show, Van der Vaart had the following to say about Haaland (via GOAL):
"Take away his pace, I see Erling Haaland as a normal player. Technique-wise, he’s not good enough and he can get away with it when City are on form but not when they’re struggling. I just think he’s missing something that those top, top strikers have.”
He added
"I might get criticized for that opinion but I don’t see him at the same level as the top strikers I played with, like Ruud van Nistelrooy. Manchester City need Erling Haaland at the moment, but where is he? That’s why he’s not among that select few world-class strikers."
Haaland has been exceptional since joining City from Borussia Dortmund for a reported €60 million in July 2022. In 117 appearances, he has scored 107 goals and registered 14 assists.
Despite City's poor run of form in recent weeks, Haaland has netted 17 goals in 19 games this season. He's also the Premier League's top-scorer this season with 12 goals under his belt.
Manchester City are confident that Erling Haaland will sign a new contract at the club - Reports
The Cityzens are optimistic that Haaland will sign a new contract at the club, as per GiveMeSport (via Transfer News Live on X). This comes after Pep Guardiola signed a two-year extension at Manchester City some weeks ago.
Haaland's contract at Manchester City is scheduled to expire in June 2027. However, the Cityzens are currently looking to extend his contract. This could be a strategic move by City to fend off potential clubs across Europe that might be looking to sign the Norwegian.
Meanwhile, Haaland might also be looking for a fresh challenge having won numerous silverware including two Premier League titles at City. A fresh deal could indicate that he's part of the long-term plans of the club. Haaland has previously been linked with a move to Barcelona and Real Madrid.