Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has admitted he is struggling to cope with the increased attention he has received in recent years.
After leaving Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg in 2020, Haaland experienced a meteoric rise that saw him terrorize the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund before breaking countless records with Manchester City en route to Premier League and Champions League glory.
Now one of the biggest names in football, Haaland attracted plenty of attention following Norway’s recent 4-0 win over Cyprus, in which he scored two goals to take his tally to 27 in 27 appearances for his country.
Security had to run onto the pitch to help him deal with a throng of supporters who wanted photos and the chance to head home in his shirt.
“Of course, I really appreciate the support. That’s what I wanted to do when I was little, so I’m not particularly complaining about it,” he told TV2.
“I’m getting a little tired of my own name, but it is what it is. Not much I can do about it.”
At club level, Haaland is currently on a three-game drought in front of goal, having failed to find the back of the net against Wolverhampton Wanderers, RB Leipzig and Arsenal.
Such a barren run is far from usual for Haaland, but City boss Pep Guardiola has repeatedly scoffed at criticism of the Norwegian international.
“He had incredible chances and now he could have scored 14, 15 goals,” Guardiola said before the international break. “The important thing is that he always says: ‘I have a chance, I have a chance, I have a chance. The problem is when I don’t have chances or I don’t get the ball or I’m in the wrong position’.”
“My advice is, don’t criticize Erling too much. Criticize the full-back, the centre-back or the manager, but never, ever the striker who scored all those goals, because he will, and then you’ll be in a position to apologize to him.”
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