Erling Haaland has attributed his recent success with headed goals to dedicated practice sessions with his father, Alfie Haaland, in their garden. The Manchester City striker has scored three headers in his last three matches, a significant increase from the six headers he netted throughout the entire previous season.
Haaland identified improving his aerial ability as a key area for development after his transfer to Manchester City in 2022. He believes this focus has now added a new dimension to his game.
"Over the years, I’ve worked a lot on my heading," Haaland stated. "I’ve improved it massively and it’s become a strength of my game. I think a lot of it comes down to experience." He further elaborated on the specific practice, saying, "Actually, two days ago I was practising headers with my dad in the garden."
Alfie Haaland, a former City player who made 47 appearances for the club, has been instrumental in his son's development. These impromptu sessions in Cheshire appear to echo elements of Haaland's childhood training.
Champions League Incident
Haaland's recent performance in the Champions League, where he scored the first goal of a brace against Porto, was highlighted as an example of his improved heading. The match, however, also saw a heated exchange involving Haaland and Porto midfielder Pablo Rosario.
Haaland was cautioned after a late-game confrontation, which he described as Rosario attempting to prevent him from scoring a hat-trick. "I was really keen on a hat-trick and it seemed like he [Rosario] was very eager to stop me from getting it," Haaland told TV 2. He alluded to an incident where Rosario allegedly grabbed him.
The tension extended to the tunnel at halftime, with players from both teams needing to be separated. Reports indicate that Marcus Bettinelli may have been pushed by Porto officials amid disputes over refereeing decisions. UEFA's disciplinary committee is currently reviewing match reports to determine if any action is required, with potential sanctions likely to be financial penalties.
Haaland has amassed 37 career headed goals, which constitute just over 10 percent of his total 302 career goals in club football. His goal breakdown includes 221 with his left foot, 43 with his right foot, and one from other means.