Goal-hungry Haaland just like Ronaldo, says Dias
MAIN MAN: Manchester City's Erling Haaland following the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
RUBEN DIAS has spent enough time playing alongside the phenomenon called Cristiano Ronaldo to recognise that in Erling Haaland the Portuguese has a kindred spirit.
The Manchester City defender returned to the Etihad Stadium after spending the previous two weeks watching Ronaldo strain every sinew in a bid to qualify for his sixth World Cup to find Haaland once again being Pep Guardiola's wrecking ball.
Two goals in five second-half minutes by the Norwegian striker sent City back into the top four and took his tally for the season for club and country to 23 in just 13 appearances. Yet he still left the pitch clearly distressed not to have claimed his ninth Premier League match-ball.
Haaland now has 324 career goals against his name, just three months after he celebrated his 25th birthday. That's almost three years quicker than it took Ronaldo to hit the same mark.
And while the longevity of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner means his world-record tally might never be matched - it currently stands at 949 and counting - the sight of Haaland stomping down the tunnel disgusted with himself for not taking any of the three injury-time chances that came his way resonated strongly with Dias.
"It's a good reflection of his state of mind," said Dias. "In that he is very similar to Ronaldo. Everyone wants to score goals, but both of them (Ronaldo and Haaland) have this ability to just keep on scoring and scoring.
"We're just happy that Erling is in this moment and we want him to continue. We want to keep pushing him because we want him to break records that have not been beaten before.
"You need to ask Erling and Cristiano (about what makes them so special), but obviously mentality is key in everything that everyone does. That will be a big part of it. But also natural talent and a lot of other things."
Haaland scored 52 goals when his debut season in Manchester ended with the Treble in 2023. Yet he came second to World Cup-winning Lionel Messi in the Ballon d'Or poll.
Some at the Etihad that Norway's progress to next summer's tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States has been a big factor in the way he's attacked the current campaign.
Dias feels the disappointment of being part of a City team that failed to land a trophy last season has also been a motivation.
Asked if City's No 9 is now hitting new heights, the centre-back responded: "I don't really know because Erling has beaten the Premier League goals record before, so better than ever?
"He's always been brilliant and on a very special level. Last season was obviously tricky for us, but it was probably the moment after winning so much.
"I actually don't know what his numbers are, but we will keep pushing him. We will push everyone on the pitch because only that way will be achieve great things.
"If anyone thinks we have won enough here then they're in the wrong place. If players keep pushing themselves for better individual form then a better collective form comes out. That's the only way."
Everton have now failed to beat City in their last 18 meetings. But David Moyes did enjoy some success at the Etihad during his previous incarnation as Toffees' boss and he employed a tactical plan that both frustrated the home side and inspired hope that they could end the hoodoo.
But Beto failed to convert two decent first-half chances before Haaland came to life after the break to take City's unbeaten run in all competitions to eight games.
As Everton defender James Tarkowski explained: "I think we managed Haaland pretty well in the first half. But the problem is he isn't the kind of player who gets involved in build-up play so you think it's going well.
"Then he gets one chance and like any world-class striker, he puts it away. That's what he does."
Donnarumma 6; Nunes 6, Dias 6, Ake 6 O'Reilly. 7 (Lewis 85); Nico 6 (Kovacic 85), Reijnders 6 (Bernardo 59, 5); Savinho 5 (Cherki 85), Foden 6, Doku 5 (Bobb 59, 5); Haaland.
: Pickford 5; O'Brien 6, Keane 6, Tarkowski 5, Mykolenko 5; Gueye 5 (Iroegbunam 70, 5), Garner. 6; Ndiaye 7 (Dibling 85, 5), Dewsbury-Hall 6 (McNeil 87), Alcaraz 5 (Röhl 70, 5); Beto 7 (Barry 75, 5).
Booked: Garner.
: Tony Harrington (Cleveland).
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