Haaland: We have to stick together, enjoy the ride and smile!
Enzo Maresca’s side face Liverpool away on Sunday as we look to build on our perfect start to the Premier League season, before welcoming holders Paris Saint-Germain to the Etihad for our next UEFA Champions League assignment three days later.
Haaland, fresh from scoring three times in four games for Norway during the recent international break, has returned to the City Football Academy full of positivity ahead of our trip to Merseyside - and he believes the bond between players and fans will be key as we look to navigate two of the toughest fixtures in world football.
“I think they [the City fans travelling to Anfield] are gonna have a good time,” he said.
“We have to stick together. We have to stay with each other, and we have to stay positive.
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“No matter what happens in life, we always have to have a smile. We have to stay positive, look ahead and try to win football games and try to enjoy the situation and win the game.
“We have to stick together, and we have to spread the love to each other.
“So yeah, stick together, enjoy the ride and smile.”
Haaland is now in his fifth season at City, a period which has seen him win nine major trophies and set a series of mind-boggling records along the way.
Two Premier League titles, one Champions League, two FA Cups, one League Cup, one FIFA Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup and one Community Shield tells the story of City’s consistency since Haaland’s arrival in the summer of 2022.
And his remarkable 169 goals in 205 games, as well as three Premier League Golden Boots, underline his personal brilliance during that period.
It’s fair to say his place in the pantheon of City greats is already assured.
The son of Alfie Haaland, who played 47 times for City between 2000-02, Erling has always had a close association with the Club.
Indeed, he says he is a Manchester City fan, something that binds him with our supporters across the world.
“I care a lot about this place – the UK generally,” he said. “My mother as well [as my father], they lived here for ten years – they lived in Nottingham and Leeds.
“They never lived in Manchester, but obviously my father trained over at Carrington every day.
“I spent my first four years here, my brother nine and my sister six, so it’s a special place for us.
“I care a lot about City, I have to say.
“I care a lot about the fans because I’m a fan myself - I feel with them as well.”
Sunday’s game at Anfield will see City look to consolidate our lead at the top of the Premier League table after a magnificent five wins from the first five games.
There are few – if any – tougher tests in English football than Liverpool away, though.
Haaland says it’s a privilege to be involved in a fixture he describes as “always special”.
“It’s always special to play against Liverpool - I won there, drew there and lost,” he said.