Haaland: We’re all hungry and motivated | OneFootball

Erling Haaland says City’s difficult run of results over November and December has reaffirmed the squad’s motivation.

We’re currently on a three-match winning run after a period that saw us record a victory just once in 13 matches.

Since arriving at City in the summer of 2022, Haaland has known little other than relentless success.

Brentford v City | Match preview

His first season saw us claim the historic Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League Treble before we backed that up in 2023/24 with the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and a record fourth successive top-flight title.

However, a promising start in 2024/25 gave way to a tough period.

Now, after wins over Leicester City, West Ham and Salford City, Pep Guardiola’s team are seeing the green shoots of recovery.

We go into Tuesday's Premier League clash at Brentford in sixth place and two points off a top four berth.

After so much silverware in his two full seasons at the Etihad, Haaland says the team are working hard every day to put things right.

“We are used to winning here, so it has been really weird over the last couple of months. I think maybe it has been good for us and to get this feeling,” he began.

“To get something burning inside of you to keep on going. It feels good [to have won the last three], it has been a great last week and we are all happy. We keep going.”

WATCH: City's memorable moments at Brentford

“When you lose, you can lose your confidence and suddenly we started losing. It is a winning club here and if you just look at the last ten years there haven’t been many games lost.

"It has been weird, but it has been giving me motivation and the hunger in my belly to keep going, to get better and to perform.

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“You can speak about how we have been unlucky with injuries and we have, but you can’t look for excuses. The good thing is that we have so many games and we can go straight to the next game to try to turn things around and that is what we are doing.

“Also, in training we have a hungry manager who is hungrier than ever and that is something that I love and gives me motivation, seeing how hungry and motivated he is even with everything that he has won and done for football for so many years.”

Haaland has been incredibly prolific since moving to City, netting 111 goals in 125 appearances and claiming the Premier League Golden Boot award in both full campaigns to date.

WATCH: Haaland's greatest City goals: 10 of the best

So, as well as guiding us to unprecedented amount of silverware, Guardiola has also regularly got the best out of our No.9.

That’s why Haaland rejected suggestions that City would have to change tactics if we’re to challenge for more glory this term.

“Why should the team that won four-in-a-row change anything?” he began.

“You should keep going. It is about yourself and to look at yourself and how you can turn it around. It is margins in football.

“You see some of the old clips from City with the margins and how it can win you the Premier League like the goal line clearance from John Stones against Liverpool or Rodri’s block against Liverpool that made them win the league.

“Those small things are the big difference. It is small margins in football and in the end you have to turn those margins into a positive and your path.

“You have to find your form, but look at the players, it is still the same players. Look at everything they have won. It is about taking a big, deep breath and trying to smile as much as possible.”

WATCH: City 2-1 Brentford: Extended highlights

Haaland’s strength and outstanding leaping ability makes him a force to be reckoned with when the ball is in the air.

In fact, two of his last three goals have come from headers at the back post.

However, the 24-year-old is capable of scoring from any situation and accepts that Guardiola’s team will never aim repeated crosses at his head.

“I love crosses so of course it is about finding the balance. What we want to do is create as many chances as possible to score as many goals as possible and keep a clean sheet.

“That is what everybody wants. You have to find the balance between how we play and how we keep the ball.”

Brentford v City app coverage

Our official app allows you to follow all of the action from Brentford in one place.

Minute-by-minute text updates will begin in our Matchday Centre two hours before kick-off, while our Matchday Live show will begin at around 18:15 (UK).

Former City favourites David White and Keith Curle will be the guests on the latest Matchday Live show alongside presenter Natalie Pike, offering their expert insight before, during and after the action.

During the game you can also listen to live audio commentary from Alistair Mann and Michael Brown while our text commentary continues.

Make sure to have push notifications turned on as well, so you can be alerted to key moments in the action, including goals, red cards and the team news.

Short highlights, extended highlights and a full-match replay [available on CITY+] can be accessed from midnight.