Rio Ferdinand admits he was WRONG to doubt Erling Haaland as he passes 15 league goals
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Rio Ferdinand admits it was WRONG to doubt Erling Haaland as he greets City star after already scoring 15 league goals this season – but insists Norwegian will NOT emulate the erratic records of Ronaldo and Messi
- Erling Haaland brought his season tally to 20 goals in just 13 games on Saturday
- At just 22 years old, the Man City striker is already approaching 200 goals in his career
- Experts praised Haaland’s ‘unheard of’ exploits, saying he ‘changed the game’
- Despite this, they still didn’t feel like he would match Cristiano Ronaldo’s record
- The Manchester United striker scored his 700th club goal at Everton on Sunday
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Experts continued to praise Erling Haaland after he scored another goal in Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Southampton, but doubted whether he will match the goalscoring records of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.
Haaland has now scored a staggering 15 Premier League goals in just nine games, while scoring 20 in just 13 across all competitions.
The Norwegian striker alone now has more goals than 13 teams in the division and is approaching 200 goals in his career at just 22 years old.
Erling Haaland scored his 20th goal in Manchester City on Saturday in just his 13th game
Rio Ferdinand said the Norwegian striker’s success at Man City was ‘unheard of’
His achievements put City in second place in the league, one point behind leaders Arsenal after nine games.
For Joe Cole, the Norwegian star’s success was unprecedented. He said of BT Sport: ‘This man has changed the game, there has to be a look back at the experts at BT Sport who said he wouldn’t score goals, it’s ridiculous what he was doing.’
Rio Ferdinand shared his feelings, saying: “No one knew what he would do, I’m a man big enough to admit that this man is doing other things now, it’s unheard of. It’s really stupid.
The Norwegian striker is now approaching 200 career goals at just 22 years old
“It’s like a Sunday League player plays too much, he does it in the PL. They said he only did it in Germany.’
“I was afraid he wouldn’t score the kind of goals he did before at City, with constant possession, his instinct and understanding of the game, he said you never question me again.”
What was most surprising to Joleon Lescott was how quickly Haaland has adapted to the Premier League. He added: ‘I thought there would be a transition period, but that is not the case.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 700th club career goal against Everton on Sunday
“The variety of goals scored and the way he plays is perfect for him, there aren’t enough strikers like today’s defenders are used to. The style in which he does everything defensively brings too much to the party.’
Despite their praise for the young striker, the pundits doubt whether he would match Ronaldo’s goalscoring record, who scored his 700th club career goal against Everton on Sunday, or Messi, who is just behind with 691.
Cole said of Ronaldo: “It’s a huge achievement to do it the way he did it. Haaland may score as many goals, but will he have the quality? I’m not sure. We won’t see two of them for long.
Experts said it was unlikely that Haaland would catch Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, who has 691 club goals
Ferdinand shared his skepticism, adding: “We talk about legends, but none of them lasted this level of greatness for so long. It’s mind-boggling. We see Haaland and Mbappe, but they don’t make it. It shows which levels we are talking about.’
City are next in the Premier League against Liverpool next Sunday, in what could be one last chance for the Reds to revive their Premier League season after a poor start.
Pep Guardiola’s men will also play against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday, a reverse of the match they won 5-0 last week.