Erling Haaland exclusive: 'Tough' season helps me appreciate Manchester City's 'ridiculous' past success

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Erling Haaland spoke about Manchester City's "tough" and "challenging" campaign, that at one point featured just one win in 13 across all competitions. The striker stressed that while it had been "hard", it has helped him appreciate his side's "ridiculous" success of the past seven years. Pep Guardiola's men take on PSG in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

'It's not nice' - Haaland on 'tough' Man City run of losses

Video credit: TNT Sports

Erling Haaland admits that Manchester City’s "tough" season has helped him appreciate the club's past success.

City, who have won the Premier League title for the past four years, are languishing in fifth in the table, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool after a dismal spell in November and December that featured just one win in 13 across all competitions.

However, an unbeaten run of six matches coupled with Haaland signing a record nine-and-a-half-year deal has seen City in a more buoyant mood ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League encounter with Paris Saint-Germain – live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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"Its been a tough period," Haaland said. "It’s been hard and challenging. But also something good comes out of that as well.

"It’s about learning, it’s about getting better. You need to look at yourself first and then look forward, and that’s what we’re doing right now.

"It’s tough, of course. Barely winning games is not nice when you’re used to winning almost every single game.

'It's good to sometimes pinch yourself' - Haaland reflects on Man City success

Video credit: TNT Sports

"So yeah, it was hard, and it was different. It’s not nice because all you want to do is perform and give the fans what they want – to win football games. But it didn’t happen.

"But the good thing in football is that there’s a new game every third day in this business, so you just have to look forward and turn things around."

Haaland lamented his own form during City’s slump after a mid-season spell of three goals in 13 games.

He said: "In the end, when the team performs, I as a striker get the chances and I should put them in the back of the net. That’s my job.

"And of course it’s hard for me not to be able to help the team by scoring the goals to win them games.

"But again, I think it’s a good mental thing. It’s good to get through these kinds of things as well because it makes you stronger mentally and makes you realise sometimes that you should not take things for granted as well.

"That’s in terms of scoring goals, winning games, winning trophies. In the end, football is difficult. It’s good to pinch yourself sometimes and realise exactly what you’re doing."

'That's my job here' - Haaland admits it was 'hard' not scoring during City's recent bad run

Video credit: TNT Sports

The striker concluded that the poor spell had made him even more appreciative of City’s recent monopoly at the top of the Premier League. The Manchester outfit have claimed six of the last seven Premier League titles.

"For everyone in the world, and all of us, all City fans and the Premier League, they all know how difficult it is just to win one Premier League," Haaland said. "City have won four in a row. It’s ridiculous when you think about it.

"It’s good sometimes to pinch yourself in the arm and get a reality check."

TNT Sports will show over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League across the 2024-25 season. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.

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