MY ACCOUNT
Phil Foden can see similarities between Erling Haaland and Manchester City great Sergio Aguero when it comes to his new team-mate’s “scary” finishing ability.
Haaland joined City in a £64.2million (€75m) deal earlier this transfer window on the back of scoring 86 goals in 89 appearances in all competitions for Borussia Dortmund.
Across his two-and-a-half years with Dortmund, only Robert Lewandowski (122) and Kylian Mbappe (89) scored more times among players from Europe’s top five leagues.
Indeed, Lewandowski (1.81) – who recently left Bayern Munich for Barcelona – is the only player to boast a better goals-per-game ratio than Haaland (1.07) during that period.
A year on from Aguero’s exit for Barca, where the Argentine managed just five appearances before a heart issue forced him to retire, Haaland has big boots to fill at the Etihad Stadium.
Aguero scored 257 goals in 384 appearances for City, but Foden believes the reigning Premier League champions are in good hands with Haaland.
“In front of goal he’s scary,” the England international told Sky Sports. “Everyone knows his goal record, how many he scores.
“But he’s coming into a completely different league, much faster football so it might take him time to get used to, but I’m sure when he’s in his flow he’s going to be unstoppable.
“Aguero is very similar. Haaland has got all different types of finishes as well.
“He’s scary in front of goal and if we can get him the ball in the right areas he’s going to be really important for us this year.”
Haaland was restricted to 30 games in all competitions for Dortmund last season, yet he still managed 29 goals at a rate of one 1.14 per 90 minutes.
Of those 29 strikes, which came from an expected goals (xG) return of 25.84, five were scored with his head, three with his right foot and 21 with his stronger left.
The Norway international scored the winner on his first outing for City in last week’s friendly against Bayern Munich, and the field is not the only place he is making an impact.
“He’s a top guy off the pitch, a great character, a great addition to the team,” Foden explained.
“He makes everyone laugh and he’s dead humble, which is important when you come into a team. He’s hungry to achieve things with us, so it can only mean good things.”
Haaland is set to make his domestic bow for City when Pep Guardiola’s side take on FA Cup winners and Premier League rivals Liverpool in the Community Shield on Saturday.
