Erling Haaland, the frontman for Manchester City, reflected on his side's 2-0 win against Porto during an interview with Amazon Prime.
"It was a fantastic match against the champions of Portugal. We knew we were in for a tough battle all over the pitch. They are a truly impressive top team, playing some stunning football," the striker said.
"We must give them credit. But despite any pressure we faced at this high level, we needed to get the result, and that's exactly what we did today," he added.
Haaland discussed the flow of the game:
"To be honest, we had complete control for the entire first half. Playing against a high press is always uncomfortable, but we still created plenty of chances. I could have easily scored a couple more goals. However, after our goal in the second half, they put us under serious pressure for about twenty-five minutes. Nonetheless, we managed to hold firm and secure the victory," he said.
"In matches like this, winning is essential. We've started the season well, and in the Champions League, you need victories. Otherwise, you instantly find yourself under immense pressure, and it can spiral out of control," the Norwegian articulated.
He also praised teammate Ayub Buadi:
"He had an excellent match. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been telling the hierarchy that he’s been working wonderfully in training. Honestly, we’re nurturing a real gem here. Although in the second half, he needed to set me up for a one-on-one. I was wide open, so I'm a bit angry and will definitely mention that to him in the dressing room. That said, he played brilliantly apart from that poor pass," he chuckled.
In conclusion, Haaland reflected on the high standards set by manager Enzo Maresca:
"We must always be learning. Enzo has every right to demand the utmost from all of us, and we expect the same from one another. At Manchester City, winning every match and collecting trophies is our primary goal," he asserted.
When asked whether the coach would be pleased with the team's performance, Haaland summarised:
"I hope so. We secured an away win in a tough match. Just look at the atmosphere; at times, it was absolutely unbelievable in the stadium. So, I think he’ll be proud of us."
