Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has explained the key difference between Wayne Rooney and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland after the Blues’ Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund.
Haaland was yet again on the scoresheet for Pep Guardiola’s side as City came from behind to beat Dortmund 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium. Jude Bellingham gave the visitors the lead after he got on the end of a Marco Reus cross to head home past Ederson.
With just 10 minutes left, John Stones tried his luck from the edge of the box and his shot rifled into the back of the Dortmund net. Four minutes later, Haaland acrobatically flicked the ball home to make it 2-1 to the Blues.
The Norwegian has proved that he doesn’t need plenty of touches of the ball to score goals for City. This is something that Ferdinand claimed former United striker Rooney would not be happy with.
Speaking to BT Sport, Ferdinand said: “We played with Wayne Rooney, if he scored one or two goals and had a few touches, he wouldnāt be happy. This guy is the total opposite, āgive me little touches but many goals and Iāll die a happy manā. Thatās the way he is, breathes about football and itās about scoring goals and winning games.
“What I love about him, strikers young and old who will have minimal touches in the game – he had 11 in the game – who will be panicking searching for the ball and affecting the teamās shape to get more touches. Heās calm, heās thinking āI want goals, I can have three touches in the game and if I get one in the box and score Iāll be happy.ā “