Kevin De Bruyne doesn't think Manchester City have had to change their game much to incorporate Erling Haaland as they previously played with Gabriel Jesus as an out-and-out striker.
After a rare blip against Liverpool, Haaland continued his magnificent start to life at City on Saturday as he notched another two goals in the 3-1 win over Brighton. His tally after just 15 games has now reached 22.
Former Blue Jesus is also having a good start to the campaign with his five goals and four assists helping Arsenal to climb to the top of the table, before they took on Southampton on Sunday afternoon. De Bruyne has drawn a comparison between the two by revealing that playing with Haaland in the team is similar to when the Brazilian was upfront.
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“I don’t think it is really different, I think it is just different players," the Belgian said. "We have played with a false nine, but we have also played with Gabriel Jesus up front or with Raheem. So, it is maybe not the same as Erling. But if you see Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal, he is a real number nine. It depends on the games and now we play with a real out-and-out striker. He makes different movements, so I think you have to adapt a little bit to the way he wants to play also, but I think it is going quite well.”
De Bruyne also discussed what Haaland has brought to City. “Everybody knows what [Erling] brings," he added. "He brings goals, he brings presence and that is maybe important in the tight games.
"In another way, I think this team is set up to go again and again. I think we have shown that over the last seven or eight years. Even if we didn’t win it, we were second or third. We are always fighting to go again and it is a squad with great humility. Even if we won last year, we don’t take it for granted and we want to go again. It is a nice feeling to win and we try to achieve that every year. The hard work comes first and the enjoyment maybe comes later.”
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