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Erling Haaland has warned that he is “still not the finished article” despite his incredible goalscoring exploits for Manchester City.
The Norwegian striker, who will face his former club Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday, has already netted 26 goals in just 16 appearances for club and country this season.
Last month, Premier League legend Alan Shearer predicted that Haaland would “no doubt” break his all-time Premier League record of 260 goals if he remains in England long enough.
Speaking at City’s pre-match press conference on Tuesday, the 25-year-old was asked if he could surpass his own record of 52 goals in a single season — achieved during his debut campaign in 2022/23 when City won the historic Treble.
“Not to sound arrogant, but which one?” Haaland replied with a smile, referring to his various scoring records.
That season, the towering 1.95m forward set a new Premier League benchmark with 36 goals in a single campaign.
Despite his prolific form, Haaland insisted his focus remains on helping the team rather than chasing personal milestones. “I can’t think about records I can break — that’s the last thing on my mind,” he said. “My job is to help the team win football matches. I know it sounds boring, but that’s really how it is.”
In a warning to his rivals, the Norwegian added that he continues to refine his game, particularly his aerial ability. “You can always get better,” he said. “I’ve been working on my headers, and you can see the improvement — but there’s still a long way to go.”
City boss Pep Guardiola praised Haaland’s humility and team-first mentality, describing him as “a world-class player who always wants what’s best for the team.”
“He wants to score, of course, but he also wants to make the team better — and that’s rare,” Guardiola said. “He’s incredibly humble, talented, and completely involved in everything we do.”
Haaland, who became a father last year, reflected on how he has matured both on and off the pitch. “I’m still the same kid from Bryne,” he said. “Just with a bit more experience in life.”
