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“It will come down to luck” – Leeds manager outlines plan to try stop Manchester City striker Erling Haaland

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Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has admitted that his side will need “luck” to stop Manchester City striker Erling Haaland from scoring at Elland Road on Wednesday.

Haaland, who has scored 24 goals in all competitions for Manchester City since signing from Borussia Dortmund in June, faces a club with close family ties in midweek.

The 22 year-olds father Alf-Inge Haaland spent three years at Leeds United between 1997 and 2000, with Erling Haaland himself born in the City of Leeds.

Alfie Haaland played 72 matches for Leeds before signing for Manchester City, where he made 47 appearances over two seasons.

Further links between Haaland and Wednesday’s opponents also exist, with Jesse Marsch having managed the Norwegian striker in 2019 at RB Salzburg.

And, the Leeds boss claims that he is hoping to draw knowledge from his time working with the Norwegian in an attempt to prevent the City striker from adding to his goals tally in midweek.

“It will help us [Leeds] I think a little bit. It will motivate him on the day a little bit, but it will motivate me as well. The time I had with Erling was just outstanding and we had an incredible relationship.

“In general, I have some ideas of things we will try to do [to stop him], but it will come down to luck on the day in certain moments and finding ways to contain him and hoping that we can still find ways to punish him as well.”

Only three Premier League teams have prevented Haaland from scoring so far this campaign, with the 22 year-old having scored 18 league goals and scored three hat-tricks.

The forward netted within 10 minutes of City’s return to competitive action on Thursday, scoring the opening goal in a 3-2 win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.

Haaland has failed to score in just one of the Blues’ Premier League away games, drawing a blank at Anfield in October.

Pep Guardiola’s side have not lost when Haaland has been on the scoresheet, as City prepare to resume their Premier League campaign eight points behind league leaders Arsenal.

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