By Nurat Uthman
Erling Haaland has revealed that he told Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola when he was being substituted that he would have loved to score a double hat-trick against RB Leipzig.
Haaland’s five-goal masterclass fired Man City into the Champions League quarter-finals as they dismantled Leipzig in a 7-0 rout on Tuesday night on an 8-1 aggregate victory.
The striker nabbed a first-half hat-trick, including two goals in two minutes, before adding another two after the restart in a tour-de-force performance at the Etihad Stadium.
All five of Haaland’s goals were netted before the hour mark including a first-half hat-trick but the Norwegian was unable to complete an unprecedented double hat-trick as Guardiola opted to replace the striker in the 63rd minute.
Speaking to reporters, via mancity.com, after an extraordinary night on the blue side of Manchester, Haaland said: “It’s a big night. First of all to play in the Champions League, I’m proud to play in it. I love this competition as everyone knows. Five goals and to win 7-0 at home, I’m so happy.
“I’m a bit blurry in my head so I don’t remember them all, I was just shooting! I was so tired as well after the celebrations.
“I think after scoring five goals, I have to say scoring goals [is my biggest strength]. A lot of goals today I did not think, I was just doing it.
“Same with every goal, I didn’t think. A lot of it is being quick in the mind and putting it where the keeper is not. A lot of it is in the head I think.
“I told him [Pep Guardiola] when I went off, I’d love to score a double hat-trick – but what can I do!”
The Norwegian has increased his remarkable goal tally in the 2022-23 campaign to 39 after just 36 matches across all competitions, following his five-star performance at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland has now become the club’s all-time record goalscorer in a single season, breaking a 94-year record held by Tommy Johnson who scored 38 goals in the 1928-29 campaign.
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