Cited as one of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi's priority targets to replace Kylian Mbappé next summer, Erling Haaland said all the good things he thinks of PSG before the Champions League clash against Manchester City in January.
Erling Haaland warns: “The match against PSG will be a fight”
Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland is expecting a clash of titans when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Asked about the current form of the club coached by Luis Enrique, often singled out this season, the 24-year-old striker tempered the criticism.
Questioned by Canal+ on Sunday evening, the former Borussia Dortmund player declared in particular: “PSG remains a very big club, with world-class players. It's sure that it will be a difficult match, but it's also a great challenge. » While several sources place him in the crosshairs of Paris SG for the next summer transfer window, Erlind Haaland, who has already scored 15 goals in 17 matches this season, does not hide his admiration for the reigning French champion.
“They have a rich history and an impressive track record. Despite the current difficulties, they remain a formidable team,” admitted Pep Guardiola’s protégé. The match between Manchester City and PSG, scheduled for January 22, 2025 at the Parc des Princes, promises to be one of the major events of the season. The two clubs, among the richest and most ambitious in Europe, will compete for a place in the round of 16. But Haaland is aware that the absence of Kylian Mbappé matters for the Rouge et Bleu.
“PSG misses Mbappé,” assures Haaland
The departure of Kylian Mbappé has undeniably left a void in the Parisian squad. The Frenchman was the team's offensive leader and his absence is already being felt, according to Erling Haaland. “Kylian has done incredible things for PSG. I think they miss him, of course, look at what he accomplished there,” said the Norwegian colossus.
However, the Leeds native believes Paris Saint-Germain have enough resources to bounce back. “Now they have to build a new era, with new players. PSG will always be a good team. It's a very big club so there will always be a big team with great players. It will be difficult to play against them, that's for sure. But it will be a great match to play, I’m sure,” he continued.
Mbappé's absence has undeniably left a void in PSG's attack. If the summer recruits have brought new life, Luis Enrique's team is still struggling to regain the offensive fluidity of previous seasons. Despite this context, Haaland does not underestimate the Parisians. “PSG will always be there to compete with the best teams. It's very difficult to perform well year after year. But of course, they will be there,” assures Bernardo Silva’s partner.
