Manuel Akanji reveals the training ground work that led to Erling Haaland goal against Brighton.
Manuel Akanji disclosed that Manchester City planned to attack Brighton with a long ball over the top to Erling Haaland, which resulted in the game’s first goal, after identifying a weakness in their defense.
Following last weekend’s loss at Liverpool, City immediately returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Brighton on Saturday.
Unsurprisingly, Haaland put City in front with a pair of first-half goals before Kevin De Bruyne sealed the victory with a stunning late goal.
Haaland’s first goal was not typical of the Blues’ patient buildup, as Ederson kicked the ball forward for the Norwegian to run onto, knock down a defender, and finish.
“We saw it in the video that they play one v one at the back,” Akanji said. “So everybody knows that it is never easy to go one v one against Erling Haaland.
“We trained for that and Eddy played a perfect ball to Erling and he was able to run through and score the goal. It is something we have got to use when we have a player and a goalkeeper like this.
“I think the most important thing is that we got the three points. It wasn’t an easy game, but I think we deserved to win. There are some things that we could have done better, but Brighton did well. As a team, they came here and tried to play, especially in the second half.
“In the end, we had our chances, we scored three goals and that was important. Maybe we could have done better with the goal that we conceded, but the three points are what matters.”
Manuel Akanji reveals the training ground work that led to Erling Haaland goal against Brighton.
