Jamie Carragher’s remarks that Manchester City striker Erling Haaland might not have picked the ‘right’ club have been branded “ludicrous” and “ridiculous.”
That’s according to Manchester United hero Dwight Yorke, who ruthlessly called out Sky Sports pundit Carragher as a ‘waffler.’
Haaland is leading the charge for the Premier League Golden Boot this season after scoring an impressive 25 times in 20 appearances for City.
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The 22-year-old Norwegian striker has been hailed for his impact in his debut season in England after his £51m move from Borussia Dortmund.
However, Haaland has also been placed under the spotlight amid claims that City have become a worse team with him in their starting XI.
Following City’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham last weekend, Carragher questioned if the Norway international had chosen the wrong club to move to last summer.
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“He might have picked the wrong club to get the best out of him,” he said on Sky Sports.
“You are laughing but we are not seeing everything from Erling Haaland at Manchester City. Not because of Erling Haaland.
“We can say they are a different team, but they have scored exactly the same amount of goals.
“He has scored 25 Premier League goals but Man City as a team have scored the same amount of goals, but they have conceded more.
“It’s far easier to counter-attack them as well. They are a different team and a lesser team with Erling Haaland, but again it’s not his fault.
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“Manchester City, as a team, will not play end-to-end football, it’s not Pep Guardiola’s way.”
Yorke staunchly disagreed with Carragher’s assessment of Haaland and brutally suggested the Liverpool legend should always be taken “with a pinch of salt.”
Speaking to OLBG, he said: “What a ludicrous statement from Jaime Carragher to say that Erling Haaland has not picked the right club in Manchester City, it’s a ridiculous statement.
“Everyone has their opinion, I suppose, and we've both played the game at a certain level, but I’d take whatever Carragher says with a pinch of salt.
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“If Haaland is running in behind and not being passed to, it means Pep Guardiola has to tell the players on the ball to pass him the ball. It has nothing to do with Haaland choosing the ‘wrong team.’
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“Manchester City are the best team and have been for the past four years, what team would Haaland be better suited to if not Manchester City?
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“Haaland does not like the ball to his feet, he’s a striker who likes to run in behind. It’s his first season, too, so he’s still getting to know the players he plays with and the other players are understanding how Haaland plays.
“These top strikers don’t come to feet, they like to run behind, this is why I don’t listen to people like Carragher.
“You look at all the top scorers in English history, they all like to run in behind, only occasionally did they come to collect the ball with their feet.
“Number nine is a specialist position that runs in behind, they want to face the goal, not away from it.
“When Haaland was scoring all his goals before, everyone was talking about how good he is at Manchester City, now he has not scored in one game, Haaland has signed for the wrong team.
“What a load of waffle from Carragher, you also have one of the best passers in the world in Kevin De Bruyne in the team, too, they just have to see Haaland’s runs more. There is a simple solution, just play the ball in the space.”
Topics: Jamie Carragher, Erling Haaland, Manchester City, Premier League, England, Football
Adnan Riaz