1. Footymad
  2. Red Devils Mad
  3. Red Devils Latest
  4. Red Devils News

Erling Haaland Reveals How Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Helped Improve His Finishing

​Erling Haaland has heaped praise on former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for helping to improve him as a striker.

The Norwegian wonderkid then famously returned the favour to by joining Manchester United last January. Oh, wait, never mind, forget that last bit.

Instead of joining the Red Devils during the January window, Haaland instead made the move from Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg to Germany after signing for Borussia Dortmund in a deal that could rise to nearly £50m.

With ​Die Borussen he's continued to justify claims he was constructed in a laboratory, with a stupendous 12 goals in just 11 matches, including a debut hat-trick (he's 19 years old). It could have been very different for the Norwegian, however, after he revealed that Solskjaer played a key role in perfecting his talents as a striker from their time together at Molde. It's hardly surprising, Solskjaer wasn't too shabby himself, either.

“I remember it was frustrating as a young striker, everything goes against you in training," Haaland told Eurosport. "I was alone with the keeper and the bar, got crosses from Ole Gunnar, but I missed on every opportunity. I remember Ole then said ‘I think you start this game, so just be ready.’"


So which particular aspects did the ​United boss work on? More than one it seems. Blimey, what a top, top bloke.


"Solskjaer and I did some practice on finishing. Not just crosses. I remember he taught me some easy rules," the teenage forward revealed. "The first one was one-touch [finishes]. That I don’t use too much power and trying to destroy the goal or the goalie with ball. 

FBL-ENG-PR-MAN UTD-SOLSKJAER

"I think that I was thinking about doing that and it was something new that he told me. I trained a bit on that, but without scoring. But at least I had it in my head after that training session.

“He has taught me a lot to be calm, and also be on your toes and come to those situations where the ball is coming. It is then you have the chance to score. He deserves a lot of credit for teaching me that.”

For more from Ross Kennerley, follow him on Twitter!  


Source : 90min