Erling Haaland compared Brentford’s tactics to Tony Pulis’ infamously direct Stoke City side after scoring the winner in a hugely physical contest.
Haaland’s first-half strike was enough for Pep Guardiola’s men to edge past Keith Andrews’ side in a bruising encounter and the Norwegian spoke to Sky Sports about how he found the battle afterwards.
He said: ‘It was a tough game, and reminded me of Stoke City with Rory Delap 15 years ago!
‘They are huge and do throw-ins from the middle so of course it is not easy but it is about preparing for what is going to come and analysing well and we did. The backroom staff did their job really well. All praise to them.
‘A low block is not easy – five people around us at all times. It is why it is not easy and why it feels even better.’
Rory Delap’s long throw ins were a staple of Stoke’s play from promotion to the Championship in 2008 and then the next few years in the top flight.
David Moyes described them as ‘like a human sling, while Sam Allardyce called the tactic ‘the best Scud missile I have ever seen’.
Erling Haaland compared Brentford’s approach to Stoke City when Rory Delap was there
Rory Delap’s long throw-ins became a huge weapon for Stoke City 15 years ago
Chelsea boss Luis Felipe Scolari at the time admitted: ‘I have never seen anything like this in my life.’
Delap’s throws could reach 40 metres and even measured 50mph at times. Long throw-ins have come back into fashion in the Premier League this season and Brentford are another exponent of the strategy.
But Haaland and City were able to defend their box well and the striker’s goal claimed three precious points.
Haaland is on red hot goalscoring form this season, with nine in seven Premier League matches and 12 in all competitions.
He explained: ‘I have never felt better than I do now.
‘It is about preparation, getting ready for the games. You can be physically ready but you need to be mentally ready.
‘With a kid it makes me even better because I disconnect more than ever – I don’t think about football at all.
‘When you are young you think of this and that and maybe worry about things but when I get home I relax even more. I think I need to give a shout-out to my son.’
When asked specifically about his goal and the raw power he used to brush aside Sepp van den Berg, Haaland was pleased with his work.
He added: ‘This for me this goal is top. This was one of my better goals for me because of the whole thing.’
