Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has suggested that Manchester City ace Erling Haaland needs to play with his back to goal more often if he wishes to improve.
The Norwegian frontman has made a scintillating start to life with the Blues following his summer switch from Borussia Dortmund, registering 27 goals and three assists in 22 appearances. The 22-year-old, who has netted 21 times in the Premier League, has also bagged three hat-tricks already his term.
While City secured an important 1-0 victory over Chelsea on Thursday night, Haaland struggled to impact the game and recorded just 31 touches in the match. It was just the fourth top-flight game that the striker has failed to score in so far this season.
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Haaland has, evidently, been one of the Premier League's standout players this term, but ex-Chelsea man Hasselbaink has suggested that he needs to improve one aspect of his game if he is to continue progressing.
"I don’t think it affects him mentally because he’s in a Man City team and they are so good at keeping the ball," the Dutchman said on Sky Sports. "If he wants to progress as a player, yes, he needs to get with his back to the goal more, but he doesn’t have to really do it in this team.
"He can wait for the ball in the box and make the difference there, and that is where they need him. It’s like Jack [Grealish] said, 'I just crossed the ball and then Haaland would be there' - where is he? Because he pops up with those little moments."
Haaland remained on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, but it was substitutes Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez who combined brilliantly for the only goal of the match.
After the game, Grealish - who provided the assist for Mahrez's goal - admitted that there was a 'lively' discussion at half-time after an underwhelming first period.
"Yeah it was [lively]," he said. "I won't go into too much detail. The manager changed a few things, had a few words. We come out and the first 20-30 minutes especially we dominated and had more chances. When we got the goal we had control of the game but they had a few themselves."
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