Haaland makes remarkably honest admission after controversial Man City goal
Erling Haaland has admitted he would have been "fuming" if Manchester City had been on the receiving end of their controversial second goal against Fulham.
The score was level at 1-1 when Nathan Ake aimed a header from the penalty spot towards the bottom left corner. Fulham's defensive line had moved up, leaving Manuel Akanji offside, with the City defender jumping over the ball as it went past him.
Referee Michael Oliver awarded the goal, despite the vast majority of people believing it should have been ruled out. The Cottagers were left furious by the decision, with Haaland sympathising with City's outraged opponents.
"It was the perfect end of the week. It's good to be back. In the end we win 5-1 and it's well deserved. I think it was offside as well, I feel bad for them, I would be fuming after this as well. It must be a horrible feeling for them," he told beIN Sports.
"Last year was also difficult to start but we've been taking more points now. In the end it's been a perfect start because we've won four games, but we have a much higher level and it's about working towards that."
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Fulham boss Marco Silva returned to London seething after Ake’s header on the stroke of half-time was allowed to stand. Silva served a one-match touchline ban in midweek after being booked in all three of Fulham’s opening Premier League games.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Nathan Ake's goal have stood? Comment below.
Erling Haaland sympathised with Fulham's anger over Nathan Ake's goal (Viaplay)“Everyone that plays football, that has played football, that has some knowledge of football, they are 100 per sure to disallow that goal. For the linesman, it can be difficult to judge an offside decision, but for VAR, it is impossible not to disallow that goal," he said.
“It is clear he (Akanji) is in line with the ball. He pulls away from the line of the ball and the ball goes in his direction. The player pulled away from in line with it and influenced the goalkeeper. How it wasn’t disallowed is incredible.”
Haaland also warned the Premier League “I’m back” after turning terminator at the Etihad. The Norwegian striker scored the seventh hat-trick of his City career in only his 59th appearance.
Stand-in City boss Juanma Lillo insisted that Haaland can repeat the heroics of last season, when his 52 goals helped City win the Treble. The 23-year-old, who was crowned both UEFA and PFA player of the year during the week, has now scored six times this season.
Lillo, who has taken charge on the touchline for the last two games with Pep Guardiola in Barcelona recovering from a back operation, said: “Erling was born to score goals - so it will be no surprise if he gets same figures as last season. But it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t. He is also great at providing for other players and he gave one assist today.
“He has this importance to other players. It’s not just about scoring goals. I’m more impressed by other figures as well, not just if he ends up scoring. I always looked at his intelligence as well as his goal-scoring before he came here.”
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