Stale Solbakken found it difficult to articulate his thoughts about Erling Haaland after the striker scored twice to lead Norway to a victorious start in the Nations League.
Norway kicked off their campaign with a 3-2 win over Denmark at Ullevaal Stadion, with Haaland’s decisive goal in the 74th minute proving crucial.
With goals from Oscar Bobb and Haaland giving Norway a 2-0 lead in the first 18 minutes, Denmark’s Mikkel Damsgaard managed to narrow the gap with a free-kick in the 25th minute.
Denmark equalized through Rasmus Hojlund an hour into the match, but Haaland, in top form, secured the win with a powerful shot into the near post from Filip Jorgensen’s angle 16 minutes from the end.
Haaland has now netted in 10 of his last 13 competitive games for both Norway and Manchester City, amassing 16 goals in total, and he has scored in each of his last six matches, totaling nine goals.
The last time he enjoyed a longer streak of 12 consecutive matches with a goal was from August to October 2025, and Solbakken remarked that Haaland’s scoring talent is innate and unteachable.
“It can’t be explained or learned; it’s instinct, something he was born with,” Solbakken said about Haaland.
“As a goalscorer, he is exceptional. Everyone asks how he became so accomplished. He possesses a remarkable physical ability and is at his peak during critical moments of the game.”
“He has an intuition for anticipating the ball’s arrival and knowing where to position himself. That’s an inherent quality.”
— Fotballandslaget (@nff_landslag) September 24, 2026
With his two goals, Haaland continues to be the leading scorer in Nations League history, now boasting 21 goals—at least six more than any competitor.
Enzo Maresca mentioned earlier this season that Haaland would be given rests during certain matches, a strategy Solbakken fully supports.
So far this season, Haaland has scored seven goals in seven appearances for Manchester City, while contributing 593 minutes on the pitch.
“The period of November, December, and January will be when he needs a break,” Solbakken explained regarding Haaland’s heavy schedule.
“That’s why I made the trip—to ensure we can avoid taking a break now. They understand that he will need some rest eventually.”
Even Denmark’s coach, Brian Riemer, praised Haaland, expressing a desire to have a player of his caliber on his team.
“You can’t fully improve when Haaland is performing,” Riemer admitted. “He can be absent at times, but give him a slight opportunity and he makes an impact. He can turn the tide of games, which is what ultimately determines victories.”
Fan Take: This news highlights Haaland’s undeniable talent and importance to both Norway and Manchester City, demonstrating how pivotal he is in crucial matches. For soccer fans, his ability to change the dynamics of a game reaffirms the exciting nature of football and the impact one player can have on a season.
Source: www.soccernews.com
