Is Haaland the ‘last piece in the jigsaw puzzle’ for City’s UCL hopes?
Hendrik Haaland has been described as the ‘last piece in the jigsaw puzzle’ to complete Manchester City’s transition from a lower league team to a European competition contender.
The Belgian has emerged as a key player for his country and his club. Photo: PA PA Wire/PA Images
With manager Pep Guardiola’s plans to rest key players and play younger players on a weekly basis, Haaland has been brought in to play in midfield, and he has been pivotal in the side for his part in the success in his country’s World Cup campaign.
The 25-year-old was part of the Belgium team that reached the semi-finals for the first time in 30 years when they went out in the quarter-finals to Germany. Haaland was left out of the squad for the final before the hosts took on the Netherlands on a cool and blustery afternoon at the Stadio Olimpico in Milan.
But Haaland has been impressed with the way Guardiola is going about the transfer of players to keep the core of the team together and give them the chance to compete in the top flight.
Haaland said: “He’s made some major changes so that the club could develop. I think that is important for players coming into the team.
“The coach has the vision and the vision is not just to keep the players together who are already there. The coach wants to give a chance to players who have not been used to football and to give them opportunities to play with young players.
“It depends on the type of player he wants to sign and his desire to play, of course. But it is a very good challenge for me.
“Sometimes people don’t see the vision and don’t understand what he wants. He was telling