Countless hours of commentary and columns have already been devoted to analyzing the Haaland phenomenon: in particular, one wonders why he is so prolific compared to others despite his young age. Should credit be given to athletic prowess? yes. Is it the natural finishing instinct? Of course. The problem with trying to check Haaland is that we are dealing with a classic player who has, as the laziest of commentators say, “the whole package”: pace, strength and the ability to run the ball at his feet with his back to the goal. He is an uncommon sniper even among elite strikers.
However, when you look closely, Haaland’s truly remarkable feature is his ability to make himself invisible. During the match, he lurks behind the opposing team’s defences, knows how to hide in blind corners, patiently waits for an opportunity and then magically, almost by magic, reappears, only this time being half a step ahead of the defender who swooped down on goal a moment before putting the ball into the net. All the best strikers know how to do this, of course, even if Haaland has improved his technique to near perfection. During matches, it’s surprising how often top defenders are shocked to see him, as if they’ve forgotten that the Norwegian giants they should be protecting are still on the pitch, right next to them.
“I try to be smarter, smarter and more outspoken than the people I play against,” Haaland says, trying to provide an explanation. “I try, for example, to be more engaged on a mental level. Because if I find the right focus, I’ll have a second, and I can put myself in a position to end and they can’t stop me. They think I’m going one way, but I’m running the other,” he explains, mimicking a body trick on his right, before cutting to the left. So, at last I score. In short, something like that. It’s a solution I turn to often.”
Haaland grew up obsessively watching other strikers, copying their movements and trying to figure out what made them so special. “From Zlatan to Van Persie, from Vardy to Aguero, to Messi,” he said. Negredo, Edin Dzeko, Balotelli… Over time, he’s learned something from all of them, but he’s especially keen on the mental side of the game. Scoring goals at the highest level in the sport is not just a matter of physical attributes; It is also a contest of the mind, a game based on confidence, calculation and the ability to outsmart an opponent. “In the end, it’s all about awareness and it’s all about our heads,” Haaland notes.
“Introvert. Avid gamer. Wannabe beer advocate. Subtly charming zombie junkie. Social media trailblazer. Web scholar.”
