Ex-Man City Defender Struggles to Explain How to Stop Erling Haaland

Colin Hendry, former Manchester City defender, tried to explain his approach to containing Erling Haaland in an exclusive chat with GOAL. Despite his experience, Hendry admits that dealing with the striker’s threat is a puzzle without a clear answer.

Haaland’s Goal-Scoring Feats

The Norwegian forward has left defenders scratching their heads. Arsenal’s centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes has arguably been closest to figuring out how to contain him, having faced Haaland multiple times in Premier League battles. Still, even he has had to acknowledge Haaland's dominance.

• Premier League goals for Man City: 112
• Total goals for City across all competitions: 162
• Appearances for City: 198
• Golden Boots won: 3
• Part of Man City's Treble-winning squad: 2022-23 season

A Decade-Long Commitment at Etihad

The club secured Haaland on an astonishing 10-year deal running until 2034, signaling their faith in his continued impact. Despite interest from giants like Real Madrid, Haaland remains focused on adding more trophies in Manchester and pushing for Ballon d’Or honors. His standards are high, and the challenge now is sustaining them.

How Do You Stop a Force Like Haaland?

At 26, Haaland shows no signs of slowing down, especially after his World Cup debut with Norway. The big question: Does he have any weaknesses that defenders can exploit?

“I’ll answer that, f*ck knows!” Hendry responded when asked about how to handle Haaland.

He went on to mention Gabriel’s class defending and shared thoughts on facing players like Ronaldo in 1998. Hendry doesn’t directly compare Haaland to Ronaldo but acknowledges the intimidating presence the striker brings.

“You’d think it’s a juggernaut coming at you when Haaland runs full pelt. It wasn’t unlike playing against Ronaldo back then, but Haaland is unique right now.”

Hendry named other great forwards like Luis Suarez, Sergio Aguero, and Romario, but emphasized that Haaland's threat is something else entirely.

His defensive strategy? Try to unsettle Haaland mentally, though he admits this might be an old-school tactic that not all modern players might use effectively.

“I would try and wind him up. I don’t know if players today are as physical or fit enough to do that. Ideally, they’d meet him head-on and then maybe try to provoke a reaction.”

Looking Ahead to the 2026-27 Season

Haaland has returned to training under new management at City, with Enzo Maresca now in charge following Pep Guardiola’s departure. He’s eager to start this new chapter by helping the team win more titles.

Man City will face Arsenal in the Community Shield on August 16 in Cardiff before starting their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth at home on August 23.

• Community Shield: Arsenal vs Manchester City, August 16, 2026, 16:00
• Premier League opener: Manchester City vs Bournemouth, August 23, 2026