‘I want to do it again’ - Erling Haaland sends warning to Man City rivals after Champions League win

Erling Haaland has warned Manchester City’s rivals in England and Europe that he wants to improve next season and repeat the team’s success.

The Norwegian’s maiden campaign in England saw him win the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, and score 52 goals in all competitions. Yet after a record-breaking year for Haaland and City, the striker is already thinking about next season and has said he can keep developing under Pep Guardiola.

“Unbelievable. In my wildest dreams I would never think of this at 22,” Haaland said on BT Sport, when asked about winning the Champions League. “But again it shows what is possible for a guy from a small hometown in Norway.

“I think after a couple of days, when this settles a bit, this feeling of winning this trophy, I think I want to do it again. I know myself enough to know this is how I will think.

“We have to defend what we achieved this season. That’s how it works and in a month or two months everything is forgotten and we have to start attacking again. That’s life.

“I can improve a lot,” he added. “I think I can develop a lot. I’m still young, I’m only 22. I still have a lot of years left. To be getting trained by him [Guardiola], the best coach in the world, it is a good place to be.

Haaland, in many ways, embodied the team at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, as both City and the star no.9 weren’t at their best. But a Rodri goal in the 68th minute proved to be the difference, and secured a treble for just the second time in the history of English football.

“Today was a difficult game and I was close a couple of times and I had a chance in the first half,” said Haaland. “I could have got the ball from Gundo [Ilkay Gundogan] in the first half, but he played to Jack [Grealish].

“Second half, was really close from Phil [Foden] a couple of times. On a good day I think I could have scored two goals, but I really don’t care about that right now. In finals, the only thing is about winning. It’s about performing as a team to get a trophy.”