Erling Haaland on Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, and his favorite Premier League goal: Men in Blazers 09/13/25

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2:16Erling Haaland:one day it's gonna be me we're not playing forever you know i will play for a long time long time still, but of course football is not forever.

2:30Rog Bennet:My guest today is a gent who plays the game like he's unlocked a Premier League cheat code. After his first 100 league appearances for Manchester City, he's banged, blasted and finessed 88 goals more than any other person in human history, making one of the hardest acts in sports. Finishing looks so sublimely easy. It's a joy to welcome back, best thing out of Manchester since the bucket hat, Mr Erling Haaland. Hello, Rog. Thank you for the introduction. It was lovely. No one deserves it more than you, Erling, to be candid. We are speaking just after you reached that remarkable milestone, 100 Premier League games.

3:10Rog Bennet:You moved there June 2022. Were instantly written off by the tabloid media because you failed to score in your Community Shield debut, but then blasted 10 goals in your first six games. Take me back to that time. Was it a relief that you could score with such ease in the Premier League or was it no surprise because you never doubted yourself?

3:31Erling Haaland:I mean, me and all the people around me, we worked hard for this transfer and we spoke to a lot of people and me as a City fan, I watched so many games. So in the end, I kind of knew what I was coming to. And when I then came, it all clicked so well. It was amazing and the start was incredible, of course, with the goals and with the victories, which was amazing moments that I will remember the rest of my life.

4:00Rog Bennet:Do you remember them? LeBron James has the ability not only to remember every game he's played in, but if you mention a moment, he can remember every bucket, can relive the play, can kind of just pull it back from muscle memory. Can you remember each of your 88 Premier League goals or do they all kind of blur into one?

4:20Erling Haaland:I think I can remember if I get a little bit of... I don't think I can say all the 88 in a row, but I think I'm a bit the same, yeah. Don't worry, I'm not going to test you.

4:31Rog Bennet:But you have scored every kind of goal. You've scored point-blank range headers. You've scored chips that just go inches past the keeper's fingertips. You've scored a line drive from outside the box to complete your hat-trick against Ipswich Town last season. And one that even the commentator said, you had no right to score. Do all goals feel the same to you? Or when you hit one from distance, does it feel more satisfying than the tapping?

4:58Erling Haaland:I think all goals are important. My job is to score goals. So however the goals are scored, it's the same. A goal is a goal. But of course, it's nice to score outside the box a long shot or score a really nice overhead kick or whatever. Of course, it's nice. I will be honest and say that. But again, every goal is important and I think that's the most important thing to have in their mind. To don't overcomplicate anything. What about a hat-trick? Does a third goal mean more? It means the same. It's a goal, but of course it's more special because a hat-trick is a hat-trick. Yeah, hat-tricks are special.

5:34Rog Bennet:Of the 88 goals you've scored for City, which ones do you like the most and why?

5:42Erling Haaland:I like the overhead kick against Southampton in the treble season. And I also like the record-breaking goal home against West Ham, the chip. I really like it because obviously everything around, I break the record and everything. I also like against Man United at home, you know, Kevin's cross. And I just slide and put it in.

6:03Rog Bennet:Do you know how menacing it is when you score and you do that? It's like you're saying, I just did that and I'm going to do it again. Let's do it again.

6:12Erling Haaland:Yeah, no, I love it. And yeah, that's what I live for.

6:18Rog Bennet:We are delighted to bring you the Men in Blazers City Guides presented by Visa. A joyously assembled guide to the best places to eat, drink and explore and watch the beautiful game across the country. It's a guide aimed at helping fans experience the city as a local. It's built by you, our listeners, recommending some of the best small businesses in your communities. like the finest Viet Cajun in Houston. Yes. The best burrito in San Francisco. Yes. Where to save a lemon pepper wet in Atlanta. Yes, yes, yes. A massive shout out to our sponsor Visa who's made this guide possible. Visa gives local business owners the tools and support to be ready for moments exactly like this one.

7:03Rog Bennet:Welcoming you to enjoy the games this summer. Start planning your journey at meninblazers.com backslash cityguides. Premier League, it's meant to be so hard to adjust to early pace, physicality. You seem to have found, as in the introduction, the cheat code immediately. But so many strikers who arrive after scoring for fun in other European leagues, they do, you know, we say they need a season to bed in and there's a number adjusting this season. How did you understand it so quickly? What's the secret of your success from the inside?

7:38Erling Haaland:Some people need time, some people need more, some need less. I think it's important to understand how the new country, the new league, everything is. As when I came from Germany, it's a lot of different things, but I think it's important to understand. Don't think it is in some way. I think it's just better to be ready to experience it. And it is different. It is physical. It goes quick and everything. And it's about being ready. It's about being sharp in your mind to perform, because that's what City bought me in 2022, to perform. to come here to score goals. So that's also what I need to do and also to use the pressure to score goals and win games.

8:19Rog Bennet:This is the time of transformation in Manchester. That Belgian king, Kevin De Bruyne, just stepped off. He was the last player who'd been at a club longer than Pep Guardiola. On the field, which of the new players do you feel you've built the strongest connection with and why?

8:36Erling Haaland:Kevin, a huge legend in City, which of course we miss every day. I miss him. But again, one day it's going to be me. We're not playing forever. You know, I will play for a long time still. But of course, football is not forever. And Kevin was there for 10 amazing years. And he did everything for the club. He won every single trophy, which was amazing. So of course we miss him. But yeah, we have new players, many good players. which is going to come in here and make a difference. You know, Marmoush we see with the long shots is quite extraordinary. Tijani is also, hopefully he can give me a lot of good balls.

9:20Erling Haaland:I expect him to do that together with Ryan Shekhy as well. They need to feed me a lot of balls so I can score more goals. So I look forward to that.

9:29Rog Bennet:Who are City's leaders now? Who are the voices that everyone listens to in that changing room? And do you consider yourself to be one of them?

9:36Erling Haaland:I mean, we have a lot of leaders. we still have people that have been in the club for a long time. I'm on my fourth season now, so I have a lot of experience now as well. But Rodri has been there for a long time. John has been there for a long time. Bernardo, Ruben. There's many different leaders in their own way. And also I think every single player is kind of a captain in a different way. If it's Rico Lewis, if it's Oscar Bob to the new players. I think everyone has something that they can, or they should have something that they can help the team with to become better, even if it's this or that.

10:18Rog Bennet:Talking to change, last time you came on this show, you did so alongside your close friend, Jack Grealish, since taking his tiny shin pads and giant calves to Everton Football Club. Second straight game with two assists. You shouted him out on Snapchat. you quite delightfully hailed him as Jack De Bruyne, which is just like the greatest compliment. Erling, what's it been like for you to see his renaissance this season?

10:44Erling Haaland:Of course, it's sad I left us. You know, I cannot joke around with him every single day. But again, that's football. And you see him now, he's happy. He's playing every game. He's performing, which is amazing to see. I'm super happy for him. And Everton is lucky that they have him. and I wish him all the best. I hope he continues with this. It's a bit weird to see him there, but again, that's football.

11:10Rog Bennet:I need to finish by asking you about midweek. Norway, leading World Cup qualifier and they were within touching distance and making the first World Cup since 1998. You blasted an incredible five goals in the 11-1 destruction of Moldova. You could have got six, but your fellow Norwegian attacker, fellow Asgard, he got a hat-trick and he said after the game, you stepped aside from penalty duty to allow him to score. He said, Erling's a man who's desperate to score goals, so for him to give me the penalty was amazing. That gesture just says everything about his character. Erling, can you tell us about that moment?

11:49Rog Bennet:Because honestly, knowing you, your love for goal scoring, giving up the chance, that couldn't have been easy.

11:54Erling Haaland:No, for me, it was easier. When someone has got two goals and they can score a hat-trick, I think it's a natural thing to try to help them get a hat-trick I already had a hat-trick I already scored, I think it was four goals So I already scored a lot Of course I wanted to score more But when he could get the hat-trick I think it was a natural thing to do And he scored the penalty, which is most important He got his hat-trick We were all happy And that's something in my head I think it's completely fair

12:25Rog Bennet:You're a generous human being, Erling As well as a lethal one to you your family the season ahead Tack!