Erling Haaland issues warning to Inter ahead of Champions League final in pursuit of “big history”

Manchester City’s striking sensation Erling Haaland has warned Saturday’s Champions League final opponents Inter that he is willing to do “everything” he can to win.

Pep Guardiola and his players are on the search for Manchester City’s first success in Europe’s premier club competition, and will be hoping to make amends for a disappointing outcome against Chelsea in 2021.

The difference perhaps this season is Manchester City are now equipped with arguably the best striker in world football, with Erling Haaland having recorded a staggering 52 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions, complimented by a further nine assists.

After scoring one goal in his last seven games during the closing stages of this season, there has been plenty of conversation in recent days about whether Erling Haaland is in the right sort of form to be the man to deliver on Europe’s biggest stage this weekend.

Speaking to the media ahead of the contest in Istanbul, Haaland admitted that he feels an extra responsibility to deliver when chances to score are presented at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, as he looks to deliver the one trophy that has so far evaded his employers.

“Of course I feel responsibility,” said the 22 year-old. “But I’m confident that we are a good team, and we have to perform at our best to be able to do this. One game left to create big history, and I will do everything I can to make that happen.”

In a message to the Manchester City supporters, Haaland said, “I would love to do it,” when asked how much he would like to deliver the Champions League trophy to a fanbase that he has built a special relationship with since joining from Borussia Dortmund last summer.

“One game left from doing big history, so I would love to be a part of that. Everybody knows they won every trophy except the Champions League without me. So that’s a part of why I came here.

“All I care about is trying to win the last game of the season. It would be amazing of course. To win the Champions League is a big dream, and I will do everything I can to make it happen, and hopefully we perform at our best and hopefully we win.”

Erling Haaland knows however that winning the Champions League final on Saturday night will not be an individual effort, and that the collective performance from the outstanding quality of his teammates will be crucial.

“Sometimes I’ve been a bit nervous before games, and then I look around me and I see the team that’s starting, that is quite a good team, so then I get much more confident to perform well. It’s an amazing team, and I’m so happy to be here.”

Manchester City come into the meeting with Simone Inzaghi’s Inter side full of confidence, having secured their second-ever FA Cup title under Pep Guardiola, in a 2-1 win over Manchester United at Wembley – the first meeting between the two sides at that stage of the competition.

A brace from club captain Ilkay Gundogan – including a strike after just 12 seconds under the infamous Wembley arch – was the difference in the end, and the Germany international will be hoping that the efforts of Erling Haaland in front of goal will compliment an all-round quality performance from City to bring the Champions League title back to Manchester.