– I don’t think people understand what Erling sacrifices and has done to be in the position he is in now. I am very unsure if I would have had the strength to do the same as him. For anyone who thinks it’s so terribly glamorous: It’s a crazy life he lives. This is what Ranheim coach and former Manchester City player Kåre Ingebrigtsen tells news. On Sunday, Haaland can shoot City past Arsenal – and to the top of the Premier League – with a win over Fulham. Ingebrigtsen himself played in the light blue uniform from 1992 to 1995 and keeps a close eye on what is going on at the old club. Kåre Ingebrigtsen has a past in City. Photo: NTB – Everything has changed. When I was in City it was a typical English and traditional club with a pub culture. It was not so common to focus on diet, people would rather have a beer together. When I travel over and visit Etihad and City now, I see a research centre. It is “big business”, and it is not for everyone to become a football star, although many dream of it, says Ingebrigtsen. Nutrition and meditation When news talks to people who know Haaland well, there are several common denominators that repeat themselves when they have to describe how carefully the striker is to optimize his own body and health. He is extremely concerned about nutrition. He meditates. He wears red glasses with the hope of filtering out blue light from electronic devices and he has special light bulbs at home, which he has had since the Molde era. Haaland: – The first thing I do in the morning In the Viaplay documentary “Haaland: The Choice”, the striker talks about why he is so careful about details like this. – I am interested in taking care of my body, and I want to eat food of the best possible quality from as close as possible. There is a lot that comes into play. People talk about meat not being healthy. Okay, so what kind of meat? The meat you get at McDonalds? Or the local cow over there eating grass? Haaland then shows off two wrapped pieces of meat from cow’s heart and cow’s liver that he is looking forward to eating. – It is important to have good habits. The first thing I do in the morning is to get some daylight, it’s good for the circadian rhythm. I have started filtering the water, it can bring great benefits to the body. That’s why I do it. Erling Braut Haaland has great focus on details off the pitch. Photo: AFP Help with apartment and action In the documentary, there are several examples of Haaland’s extreme focus on facilitation. Having the right people around has been among the most important moves. Ivar Eggja, known as Mr. Fixer in the Haaland clan, has been given an important role. Haaland talks about how such supporters contribute to him being able to deliver sportingly. – Everything from setting up a bank account when I come to Germany and don’t know the language, to insurance on the car and where I will live. When I arrived in Dortmund I stayed in a hotel for two days before we went to a training camp for ten days. When I came back there was an apartment that was ready with everything. I think that has a lot to say. What happened a week later? Hat trick. – To be completely honest. If I was alone, had to choose an apartment, went to Ikea and kept at it, I don’t think I would have scored three goals against Augsburg. And two goals afterwards against Köln. And two goals against Union, Haaland himself believes. Guardiola to news: – He is exceptional City manager Pep Guardiola uses big words to describe how Haaland is off the pitch. – It is very impressive how he behaves, his mood and the way he lives his life, and his love for football… It is exceptional, says Guardiola to news. Pep Guardiola has a great sense of his own top scorer, naturally enough. Photo: Alastair Grant / AP Teammate: – He does everything Manchester City’s defender Nathan Aké, who sees Haaland on a daily basis at the club’s training facility, is full of admiration when it comes to the way the Norwegian behaves off the pitch. – It is easy to see that he does everything to ensure that his body is always in the right condition. He gives everything for his body to perform like this, says Aké according to the Manchester Evening News. The defense player describes the ice bow as “a machine”. – He has been so important to us, an incredible talent and is only 22 years old. He does everything right off the field and makes sure he is able to play every third day and perform at the highest level, says Ake. The Dutchman lists two points which he believes sums up Haaland: He takes treatment every single day He always arrives at the training facility early and leaves late – He does everything possible well. He’s a great guy and we just have to keep it going now. If he continues like this, no one is going to stop him, says Ake. So far, Haaland has benefited from the focus on detail and has been relatively injury-free for Manchester City. Before Sunday’s Fulham meeting, he has started 28 out of 31 matches in the Premier League. – Takes care of him 24 hours a day To the Manchester Evening News, Pep Guardiola says that the club takes very seriously the responsibility they have to help Haaland optimize his own health. – I don’t know what he has done in Dortmund, but here we take care of him 24 hours a day, we have incredible physiotherapists and doctors who are behind every single detail. It is always difficult for me to understand why clubs spend a lot of money on players and then leave them to themselves, says the City manager. Erling Braut Haaland has been little injured for City this season. Photo: AFP – Haaland must be like clockwork Guardiola believes that in modern football, with a demanding fixture list that includes matches every three or four days, clubs have to have a solid support system behind the players to take care of them. – We know that he must be like a clock because he is so big; he needs physiotherapy, massage, back, shoulders, tendon problem and everything. He works most of the time inside the training center, not on the field. Today, in modern football, the players often train more behind the scenes than on the pitch, says the City boss. Erling Braut Haaland plays a key role in Wednesday’s big game. Arsenal lead the league by five points to City ahead of the big game, but the light blues have played two games less than the league leader. Photo: AFP That the 22-year-old top scorer is concerned with creating the right conditions to perform is nothing new. The national team also notices that. In September, the news came that Manchester City’s physiotherapist Mario Pafundi has been brought into the support apparatus around the Norwegian national football team. The Italian has received a lot of praise for the work he has done in getting his long and explosive body in order. Solbakken: – Boy who thrives The Norwegian national team manager tells news that he notices that Haaland is in a good place during the day. – I notice it is a boy who thrives and has a good time. He makes good suggestions and is active in the environment. He does not lie in the room and exhale, as he could also do. So I feel he is a regular player off the pitch, and of course everyone has reason to look up to him, says Solbakken. Erling Braut Haaland gets a lot of praise for how he behaves off the pitch. Photo: AP When asked by news if Solbakken understands Ingebrigtsen’s statement that Haaland probably lives “a stupid life” in Manchester in order to be able to succeed as he does, the Norway manager replies: – Now we have not been on the inside of that life. So we might get some surprises there, but I don’t think it’s a dull life. But to perform over such a long period of time, when you are under such a focus day and night, then you have to have mechanisms to handle it. I feel he has very good control over it, says Solbakken. On Sunday, Haaland and City have to deal with another game of pressure: if the light blues beat Fulham away, they will jump to the top of the Premier League.
ttn-69
– I don’t think people understand – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
