In the closing stages of the match between Manchester City and Arsenal in April this year, Erling Haaland and Gabriel Magalhães had a heated confrontation. They squared up to each other, and Gabriel made a head movement toward Haaland that many interpreted as an assault.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City’s striker, could have gotten Gabriel Magalhães sent off simply by going to ground. The Arsenal defender pushed his head in the final minutes of the match, a play that Haaland himself acknowledged was a clear red card. But he stayed on his feet.
“My father taught me this: stay on your feet. That is the reality”, said the Norwegian, son of Alf-Inge Haaland, former Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Manchester City footballer, whose career ended due to a knee injury after a tackle by Roy Keane in 2001.
Haaland ended up with a yellow card instead of getting his opponent sent off. City won 2-1 with a goal from him, but what lingered was that phrase: there are lessons from childhood that a son carries even onto the pitch, amid elbows and cameras. 🟡👨👦⚽
