Foden gives verdict on whether City are better with Haaland
Phil Foden says Manchester City have had to play differently with Erling Haaland leading the line and insists that this has taken the pressure off his teammates.
The attacker has an unbelievable 42 goals already this season, eight of which came during last week alone. After firing in five against RB Leipzig in the Champions League, the 22-year-old hit a hat-trick against Burnley in Saturday’s 6-0 FA Cup quarter-final win.
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Speaking after that game, Foden sang the praises of Haaland - who will miss Norway’s fixtures this month with a groin issue - and unpacked what it is like playing alongside the striker.
"It's a pleasure [to play with Haaland], I don't know how he does it," Foden said, as per The Daily Mail. "He always seems to be in the right place, expecting things, little ricochets and things like that."
Rodri details how Haaland is staying fit at City
Haaland may be sidelined with injury this week, but his City teammates have been detailing how the striker has maintained his fitness so well this season.
On his arrival at City in the summer, questions were asked over Haaland's ability to keep fit and his injury record at Borussia Dortmund, but he has missed just three games with a minor injury so far this campaign. His latest issue - a groin injury that has ruled him out of Norway's two fixtures this week - will be assessed by City and he has not yet been ruled out of the Premier League fixture with Liverpool next weekend.
Last week, Nathan Ake explained how Haaland has been arriving early to training and staying late in order to spend more time in the gym and on the training pitch. Now, Rodri has explained another focus of Haaland's - regular massages. Speaking to Spanish media ahead of their clash with Norway this weekend, Rodri instead opened up on the measures Haaland has been taking in training to stay as fit as possible.
“Haaland is made of different stuff, he is a rock, a Viking,” he told El Larguero. “Haaland takes good care of himself, he’s with the masseur all day. Hopefully his injury is nothing, but let’s hope he leaves us alone."
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