Big things are expected of Erling Haaland after he joined Manchester City on a five-year deal from Borussia Dortmund this summer and Jamie Carragher believes he’ll be the ‘icing on the cake’ who could fire the title-winners to Champions League glory.
Carragher doesn’t regard Haaland as a game-changer in regard to City’s hopes of winning the Premier League title, but he does believe he’ll make the different in Europe. City have won the league four times in the last five seasons but haven’t won the Champions League.
Where will Manchester City finish in the Premier League this season?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th or lower
Carragher told talkSPORT: “I don’t think Haaland is a game changer for them in terms of winning the league, as they’re still favourites. I think Haaland is almost the icing on the cake for the Champions League. If he’s playing away in Madrid, they don’t lose that game. I think that’s the difference he’ll make. It gives them a great opportunity in (Europe).”
Haaland scored 85 goals with 22 assists from 88 appearances for Borussia Dortmund, so he should hit the ground running at City. And with 15 goals from 13 Champions League games at Dortmund, the Norwegian international is still prolific against the best clubs in the continent.
City scored 99 goals in 38 league games last season, but they managed only one or less goals in four of their last five Champions League outings – 0-0 draw with Sporting (March 9), 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid (April 5), 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid (April 13) and 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid (May 4).
Away from home, City have netted one or less goals in four of six Champions League games, so perhaps they do need a plan B to got on the scoresheet. Having a focal point to aim at rather than relying on midfielders to break through the lines could be the difference.