Erling Haaland jokes that he is ALREADY prepared to ‘chase’ his father’s tally of 18 Premier League goals… after scoring his first Man City hat-trick in his side’s dramatic comeback victory against Crystal Palace
- Man City’s Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick against Crystal Palace on Saturday
- His goals helped City come from 2-0 down to beat the Eagles at the Etihad
- Haaland now has six goals in his first four league matches since joining City
- Haaland is still 12 goals adrift of his father’s tally from his playing days
- The Norwegian striker has joked that he is already eyeing his father’s record
Erling Haaland notched his first hat-trick in English football and joked his first target is passing the Premier League goals tally of his father Alfie.
Haaland was unstoppable in City’s 4-2 comeback win against Crystal Palace, scoring three times in 19 minutes after the visitors had led 2-0 at half-time.
The £51million Norwegian striker now has six goals in his first four games – the best start since Diego Costa for Chelsea in 2014.
Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick to continue his stunning start to his Man City career
Haaland’s start is the best in the Premier League since Diego Costa joined Chelsea in 2014
But he quipped his Dad still has bragging rights having scored 18 Premier League goals in nine years as a midfielder for Nottingham Forest, Leeds and City.
‘It’s about trying to continue what we are doing. It was about small adjustments and we did that and got results. We had to listen to the manager.
‘It’s a proud moment for me and my family but my Dad will probably say he had more goals in the Premier League than me so I will chase that,’ said the Norwegian superstar.
‘It was a really good feeling to turn the game around. We had the mentality to trust each other and keep going.
Haaland has now got his sights set on his father’s Premier League goals tally of 18
‘We were almost there in the first half so it was about getting it done after that. It is a good feeling.
‘It’s not easy to come to a new club, a new country so it has been a good start.’
Pep Guardiola shared a hug with his hat-trick hero when he took him off near the end and said: ‘Everywhere he has been, he has scored goals.
‘I saw his body language at 2-0 down how he encouraged his mates. He never runs away from the game. He has that sense where to be in the box, don’t ask me how.
Pep Guardiola praised Haaland for his significant contribution to City’s second half turnaround
‘He’s also an incredible humble guy. He chats to the guys in our academy. It means a lot and hopefully he will be happy in the time we are together at City.’
The only sour point for Haaland was an accidental high kick into the head of Palace defender Joachim Andersen who required treatment when City were still trailing 2-0.
Haaland escaped even a yellow card and Palace boss Patrick Vieira didn’t try to create controversy that the striker could have been sent off for dangerous player, saying the referee was in a good position to judge.
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