Manchester City's Erling Haaland has been awarded the FWA Men's Footballer of the Year

Author: Deborah Ross  /  2023-05-12 13:34:10

The decision was explained by Sky Sports' writer Adam Bate, who praised Haaland's exceptional performances throughout the season, which saw him break the Premier League's single-season scoring record with 35 goals.

Despite having relatively few touches on the ball during his appearances, Haaland has made the fifth most runs of any player in the Premier League this season, with only 8.5% of his runs being made while in possession of the ball. Bate emphasized the importance of studying Haaland's off-the-ball movements, which often go unnoticed due to his natural advantages in size, speed, touch, and technique.

Bate acknowledged that Haaland's scoring ability is unparalleled, but emphasized that his off-the-ball movements are what set him apart from other players. Watching Haaland play is a unique and mesmerizing experience, as he constantly probes the defense for weaknesses and stretches the backline to create space for his teammates.

As a three-time golden boot winner, Gary Lineker has also expressed his frustration with the idea that he was simply in the right place at the right time. Similarly, Haaland's incredible off-the-ball movements demonstrate that there is much more to his game than just his goal-scoring prowess.

Overall, Haaland's exceptional performances throughout the season make him a deserving recipient of the FWA Footballer of the Year award, and a player to watch for years to come.

TW FB

Change Language: EN / DE / FR / IT / ES / NL / SE / PL / PT / FI / DK / NO