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Michael Owen’s prediction: “It’s good for Haaland!”

From Aftenposten · () Norwegian

Translated from Norwegian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Interview Named sources Context piece
  • Michael Owen said Erling Haaland has no serious rival for the Premier League scoring title after Mohamed Salah left the league.
  • Owen praised Manchester City forward Rayan Cherki but said he differs sharply from Haaland’s former creative partner, Kevin De Bruyne.
  • Haaland scored his first two goals of the season against Crystal Palace, while Owen said the striker remains unmatched when supplied with chances.

Michael Owen believes Erling Braut Haaland could become the Premier League’s top scorer with one eye closed. Then he softened the claim slightly: “Perhaps not with both ... with one eye closed!”

He is so consistent, the team is so good, Mohamed Salah has left the league ... I look at the others in the league and see no one at, for example, Arsenal and Liverpool who will score anywhere near as many.

· Michael OwenHis explanation for why he expects Haaland to win the Premier League scoring title.

Owen told VG that Haaland’s consistency, combined with Manchester City’s attacking strength and Mohamed Salah’s departure from the league, leaves him seeing no comparable rival at Arsenal, Liverpool or elsewhere. “He is so consistent, the team is so good, Mohamed Salah has left the league ... I look at the others in the league and see no one at, for example, Arsenal and Liverpool who will score anywhere near as many,” Owen said.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid forward, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2001, was in Oslo last weekend as a guest on Viaplay’s Premier League broadcast. He also discussed Rayan Cherki, who stood out more than Haaland when the Norwegian scored twice against Crystal Palace last Friday. Cherki has emerged as a possible successor to Kevin De Bruyne as Haaland’s main provider.

Perhaps not with both ... with one eye closed!

· Michael OwenOwen qualified his earlier claim that Haaland could become top scorer with both eyes closed.

Since De Bruyne left the club last summer, City have struggled to find a partner with the Belgian’s vision. Owen compared their relationship with his own connection to Steven Gerrard. “I was very lucky to meet Steven Gerrard when I was 10 and we had a telepathic connection. Haaland had that with Kevin De Bruyne. Now he has to build it with new players,” he said.

I was very lucky to meet Steven Gerrard when I was 10 and we had a telepathic connection. Haaland had that with Kevin De Bruyne. Now he has to build it with new players.

· Michael OwenHis comparison between his partnership with Gerrard and Haaland’s former connection with De Bruyne.

Owen also mentioned Antoine Semenyo, signed in January. He described Semenyo as a runner who drives toward goal, while Cherki is a dribbler who prefers tight spaces. Neither resembles De Bruyne, Owen said, because De Bruyne saw openings early and delivered the perfect pass. But Cherki’s stated preference for assists over goals drew a simple response: “It’s good for Haaland!” Owen ended with a striker’s formula: “A striker needs ammunition. If you give ammunition to Haaland, no one is better at firing it.”

A striker needs ammunition. If you give ammunition to Haaland, no one is better at firing it.

· Michael OwenHis closing analogy for Haaland’s finishing ability.
About this summary

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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