‘I’ll go home now and play some video games and then go to sleep’: Erling Haaland claims he’s ‘not thinking’ about Dixie Dean after breaking Premier League’s single-season goalscoring record in Manchester City’s 3-0 win at West Ham
- Manchester City climbed to the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 win over West Ham
- Erling Haaland scored the second to break the PL single-season goal scoring record
- He claimed afterwards that he ‘doesn’t think’ about goalscoring records
Erling Haaland claimed he is ‘not thinking’ about goalscoring records after his 35th league appearance of the season.
The Man City striker’s chip in their 3-0 win over West Ham took him past Alan Shearer and Andy Cole to record the highest number of seasons in Premier League history.
He could play nine more games in all competitions, and with 51 goals already, Dixie Dean’s record of 63 goals in a top-flight season could be in jeopardy.
Despite breaking a Premier League record that has stood since 1995, Haaland downplayed the achievement.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, he said of the milestone goal: II am very happy and proud, of course I knew about it [the record].
Erling Haaland broke the record for most goals scored in a Premier League season against West Ham
His chip in the second half took him to 35 goals in just 31 appearances, beating Andy Cole and Alan Shearer’s record
‘Me and Jack [Grealish] spoke before the game and he said he wanted to give me the assist for the record. It was the perfect ball. It was a really perfect bounce when I chipped the ball. It was a nice feeling, especially winning the match is also very important.’
Grealish played an excellent pass to Haaland down the left wing, who scored the home side’s second with a delicate chip.
On the prospect of breaking further records, the 22-year-old added: “I’m not thinking about this, I’m sleeping tonight and then I’m thinking about three points against Leeds. I’m going home now and play some video games and then go to sleep.”
Despite being asked twice what video games he played, Haaland refused to answer because it was “too embarrassing.”
He also spoke of a “nice feeling” when his teammates gave him a guard of honor after the match, despite it being “really painful” when they hit him on the back, before touching City’s chance to win the treble.
The Norwegian striker revealed how Jack Grealish had joked about helping his record-breaking goal before the match
Haaland admitted the treble was ‘possible’ but insisted he was focused on the next match
“Everyone knows it’s possible,” he said, “but we can’t think about Manchester United in the FA Cup final right now, we just have to think about Leeds. We have nine games and they are all finals.’
City’s win on Wednesday puts them back at the top of the Premier League with a game over second-placed Arsenal.
They still have to face relegation-threatened Leeds and Everton, as well as European hopefuls Brighton plus Brentford and Chelsea.
Guardiola will also be desperate for a first European trophy in Manchester as his side prepare to meet Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday 17 May.