Wayne Rooney has disclosed that during Louis van Gaal’s tenure at Manchester United, the Dutch manager encouraged him to play in a manner reminiscent of Erling Haaland, even though Haaland was not yet a professional footballer at that time. Van Gaal’s strategic vision for Rooney involved greater involvement in build-up play, a concept Rooney discussed on The Overlap’s Stick To Football podcast.

Reflecting on his time at Old Trafford, Rooney expressed his desire to always be actively engaged in the game, even if it meant sacrificing more goal-scoring opportunities. Van Gaal, upon his arrival at Manchester United, emphasized a tactical shift for Rooney, wanting the center-forward to have 15 or 20 touches per game, similar to how Erling Haaland operates.

During Manchester City’s recent 1-0 victory against Brentford, Haaland had just 32 touches of the ball, as reported by Sofascore. Despite limited involvement, Haaland’s decisive touch resulted in the winning goal, highlighting the striker’s impact on the game.

In the podcast discussion, Jamie Carragher drew parallels between Van Gaal’s vision and Haaland’s playing style, to which Rooney concurred, noting that Haaland indeed operates with fewer touches, creating unpredictability for defenders. Rooney acknowledged the potential psychological impact on defenders, who may feel a false sense of security or heightened anxiety, knowing that Haaland could score at any moment.

Van Gaal’s strategic insight, urging Rooney to emulate Haaland’s playing style, aligns with the idea that a striker with minimal touches can significantly influence defenders’ mindset. The unpredictability and goal-scoring threat associated with players like Haaland create challenges for opposing defenses and open up opportunities for teammates to exploit.

Manchester City is amidst a remarkable season, poised for a potential back-to-back treble, an unprecedented feat. However, achieving this goal won’t come easy, especially with the intense competition in the Premier League title race. Pep Guardiola’s squad finds themselves locked in a tight battle with Liverpool and Arsenal.

Currently trailing the top two teams by just one point, City faces a crucial opportunity to surpass Arsenal in the standings during their upcoming clash on Sunday, a match of immense significance.

Having suffered defeat against Arsenal earlier in the season, City anxiously awaits the fitness status of five key players leading up to the match.

Michail Antonio has praised Manchester City’s John Stones for his crucial finish that kickstarted his team’s scoring against Liverpool.

Stones, the English defender, sealed off a cleverly executed set-piece by City, courtesy of a precise delivery from Kevin De Bruyne into the Reds’ penalty area, catching them off guard. With Nathan Ake drawing Alexis Mac Allister towards him, Stones found himself unmarked, positioned perfectly to slot the ball into the net effortlessly.

Antonio emphasizes that the brilliance of Stones’ finish might be overlooked by many, especially considering his defensive role. Despite the goal coming from close range, executing such a finish is far from simple for a defender, highlighting Stones’ skill and composure in front of goal.