The sight of Erling Haaland’s beaming smile will be a relief for Manchester City fans and manager Pep Guardiola alike. After back-to-back defeats, City needed their star striker to deliver in the heat of a Manchester derby — and he did exactly that.
Haaland scored twice in City’s 3-0 win over Manchester United, taking his tally to seven goals in just one week after netting five for Norway in their 11-1 demolition of Moldova.
Haaland Better Than Ever, Says Guardiola
Guardiola was full of praise for the 25-year-old forward, even suggesting he has improved since his record-breaking debut season:
“Erling has been incredible since the start but this season he is better than ever. I would say better than the Treble year. He has never disappointed. He is a special player.”
Haaland, who scored 52 goals in his first season at City to fire them to a historic Treble, now looks sharper, hungrier, and more complete than ever.
A Complete Performance in Both Boxes
This was not just about goals. Haaland showed his value in both penalty areas, winning vital defensive headers when United threatened to equalize after Phil Foden’s opener.
9 touches in United’s box
6 clearances in his own half
4 defensive headers
Moments later, after relieving the pressure at the back, Haaland doubled City’s advantage with a delicate dink over Altay Bayindir. He even missed an open goal shortly after but kept his composure to score a second.
Phil Foden described it best:
“A complete performance. He did everything — defending, attacking, holding the ball up, running in behind. It was a full shift and we need that more.”
Roy Keane and Theo Walcott Praise Haaland
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane told Sky Sports that Haaland could have scored even more:
“We know Haaland’s strengths. He’s one of the best strikers in the world and there was never any doubt he was going to finish it. He even came back to defend — a proper team player.”
Ex-England winger Theo Walcott also highlighted the Norwegian’s efficiency:
“He always has a picture in his head of what he wants to do. He simplifies finishing, never overthinks. That’s why he’s so ruthless. He’s got presence, confidence, and an aura about him.”
Closing in on Premier League Legends
Haaland’s goalscoring numbers are already frightening. His brace against United was his 50th goal in as many home Premier League games, making him the second-fastest to achieve the feat after Alan Shearer.
Alan Shearer – 260 Premier League goals (record holder)
Erling Haaland – 90 goals so far
At his current rate, Haaland could reach Shearer’s record in just over five more full seasons.
Having signed a new contract until 2034, few would bet against him rewriting the Premier League record books.
Final Thoughts
From defensive clearances to world-class finishing, Erling Haaland delivered the perfect derby performance. With Guardiola backing him as even better than his Treble-winning year, the big question now is not whether Haaland will break Premier League records — but just how quickly he’ll do it.
