Man City 2-1 Borussia Dortmund: The night Erling Haaland emulated Cruyff in the Champions League

Erling Haaland’s goal drew comparisons to Johan Cruyff

“They didn’t stop me. I scored.”

When, after Manchester City’s Champions League win against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday evening, he was accused of the fact that the German team had defended particularly well against him, Erling Haaland reacted typically harshly.

Dortmund had quieted its ex-star for well over 80 minutes. He only had 26 touches in the game – the fewest of any player. But that didn’t stop him from having the last word.

Although the young striker is becoming increasingly demanding, his winner here was particularly impressive. The template – a lush exterior of Joao Cancelo’s boot cross – was good enough on its own.

The finish, in which Haaland threw himself over the ball and acrobatically shot it with his left foot over goalkeeper Alex Meyer, was arguably the best of his 13 goals in nine games for Man City.

It was lavishly praised by his manager Pep Guardiola, who compared Haaland to his former Barcelona manager Johan Cruyff.

In a game against Atletico Madrid in 1973, Cruyff leapt in the air at the far post and deflected a cross from a remarkably acute angle into the net at chest level with the outside of his right heel.

Known as the phantom goal, it’s one of the Dutchman’s most famous strikes – and one that Guardiola finds perfectly replicated for Haaland.

“What a goal,” he said. “I remember Johan Cruyff scoring a pretty similar goal against Atletico Madrid a long time ago in Barcelona. It’s nice that Erling imitated Johan Cruyff.

“Maybe people who know me know Cruyff’s impact in my life as a person, mentor and manager. Years ago he scored at Camp Nou and scored a goal against Atleti, it was quite similar to Haaland and at the moment , when he scored it, I felt Cruyff, it was very similar.”

On a night when City looked set for a disappointing result, it was yet another reminder of their number nine’s game-changing qualities.

Haaland has now scored 26 goals in 21 Champions League games, an average of one goal every 62 minutes.

Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand told BT Sport: “What I love about him is that a lot of strikers panic when they’re not getting much off the ball. He’s calm and just thinks I want goals. That’s it.” all about the final product and sweepstakes for Haaland.

“Only certain players can walk into a winning dressing room and blend in seamlessly, there has to be arrogance and confidence. He delivers so much.

“He [Guardiola] don’t try to compare them [Cruyff and Haaland] as players, but they are players who come up with moments. Only he would score that goal tonight.”

Dion Dublin, former Aston Villa striker, said on ` Radio 5Live: “Any other player would have tried to hit it with his right foot on the volley but Haaland left footed away. It’s hard to describe. He has to be at least 2.40m in the air when he hits the ball, that’s an amazing finish.

“He obviously went on the right foot because he was behind the net! He’s left-footed and a lot of times you’ll be doing things in an unorthodox way with your good foot, which makes it look really difficult, but you’re more comfortable because it’s your good foot.

“Man City were underperforming but they still got over the line. Two very, very good goals. Stones’ goal was 22 yards away, what a goal that was.

“And then you have Haaland. I don’t know what he’s thinking when he ends up with the wrong side of his foot in mid-air. Absolutely superb finish.”

For Dortmund, who took the lead through the outstanding Jew Bellingham and kept Haaland calm for so long, this was a difficult defeat to cope with.

“It wasn’t one of those games where you get on the ball and have a lot of possession,” Bellingham said afterwards. “We knew we were going to be without the ball for most of the game.

“We were brilliant for 75 minutes but that’s enough time for City to put you away.

“That’s what great teams can do. You don’t sniff them out and out of nowhere they score and tip the game back in their favor.”