Liverpool Icon Jamie Carragher has claimed that Manchester City’s signing of Erling Haaland is worrying to the rest of the Premier League teams but insists that his arrival does not mean Manchester City will win the Premier League.
Manchester City officially unveiled Erling Haaland on Monday after paying his £60 million release clause from Borussia Dortmund. the 21 years old signed a five years contract at Manchester City.
Erling Haaland emerged as one of the top strikers and finishers in Europe after joining Borussia Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg for £20 million in 2020. Manchester City has to beat competition from Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Chelsea to sign the Norwegian international.
Haaland scored 86 goals in 89 appearances for Borussia Dortmund including 29 goals in 30 appearances for Dortmund last season despite most of the season sidelined with injury. Erling Haaland also won the Champions League top goal scorer in 2021.
What did Jamie Carragher say?
Jamie Carragher said via Skysports:” It’s a worry for the rest of the Premier League.
“We are talking about one of the world’s greatest even at such a young age, but I don’t think anyone should be raising the white flag too early because it’s going to be interesting how he fits into the team.
“Pep Guardiola hasn’t used a central striker in the last couple of years and he’s still been very successful.
“So, it will be really interesting to see how he settles but from the Premier League’s point of view, I think it is fantastic that we’ve got one of the world’s leading players right now joining our league.
“That doesn’t always happen, certainly at a young age, and a lot of his best years are going to be in the Premier League.
“So, it’ll be really exciting for everyone to watch but it’s going to be a tough proposition trying to stop Manchester City.”
Jamie Carragher added: “They have so many players now who don’t play through the middle. They keep the ball so well and they control the game so well. Maybe they will lose a little bit of that.
“So, I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that means City are going to win everything.
“They have a great team and a great manager, and I think Haaland coming in won’t make that much of a difference in terms of how many points they get. They always get in the mid-90s for points anyway, which is a remarkable feat
.
“He may have been brought in just to make that difference in those games where they just fell short, maybe more in the Champions League than the Premier League.
“He’ll change, he’ll evolve, he still has a lot to learn, he’s a young player. He’ll learn from one of the greatest coaches in world football. He’ll bring things to his game.
“But he should also remember not to change too much. He is what he is. Powerful, his pace, the goals he gets.
“That’s what I’m intrigued with, how he fits into that Pep Guardiola style which is a bit more slow and technical than the end-to-end type of football you see in the Bundesliga.”
Manchester City will be hoping to equal Manchester United three Premier League titles in a row and finally win the Champions league next season.
