Norway legend John Arne Riise has no worries that Erling Haaland has delayed his preparations to face Scotland to party with Champions League winners Manchester City...because the ex-Liverpool star did exactly the same.
Haaland has been given special permission to arrive late in the Norwegian camp ahead of their huge Euro 2024 qualifier with Scotland on Saturday. The goalscoring machine helped City win their first ever Champions League trophy and will take part in their victory parade today before delaying his arrival in Oslo to Tuesday after manager Stale Solbakken gave him the all-clear.
And Riise - who came out of retirement to manager homeland women's side Avaldsnes IL - insists it won't have any impact on Haaland after he did the same following Liverpool's famous comeback 2005 win against AC Milan, also in Istanbul. He said: "I read that Solbakken had allowed him to celebrate and it was the same with me in 2005.
"In an interview after the final, I said that I had cramps and pain in all my legs, but I would now get a long break and then I instantly received a message from our manager Age Hareide while I was being interviewed...'remember the national matches!'
"I was allowed to enjoy myself for a couple of days. We had an open bus the next day in Liverpool. There was a celebration then, but the next day I went to Oslo to prepare for the match. Only after the national match did I enjoy celebrations with friends.
"Haaland is such a professional that if you win the Champions League, you celebrate that day and maybe another day. I have no doubt that he will enjoy the victory for a couple of days...then he will focus on the national matches. I am absolutely sure of that.
"He will be told by Solbakken about that too. Without a doubt, I have faith we can beat Scotland. This Norway team has not yet delivered at the level they can. But I am sure they will. We have some players who are world class. Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland certainly and a couple of other players have played well too. Some players have to take the step up. We have to perform as a team."
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