Erling Haaland sees ‘something special’ in Manchester City new boy Omar Marmoush
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Manchester City's Egyptian striker Omar Marmoush (left) with teammates Erling Haaland (centre) and Josko Gvardiolduring, during the match against Chelsea.
PHOTO: AFP
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LONDON – Erling Haaland believes his new Manchester City strike partner Omar Marmoush will be a “fantastic” signing after the Egyptian’s impressive debut in the English champions’ 3-1 win over Chelsea on Jan 25.
An error from another newcomer, defender Abdukodir Khusanov, gifted Chelsea the lead inside three minutes through Noni Madueke, but goals from Josko Gvardiol, Haaland and Phil Foden helped City to their fourth win in five Premier League games as they leapfrogged the Blues and Newcastle into fourth.
After Chelsea’s early opener, Marmoush thought he had equalised when he fired home the rebound after Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez parried Ilkay Gundogan’s effort, but the Egyptian was flagged offside.
Marmoush, 25, had scored 15 goals in 17 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt in this season’s Bundesliga – surpassed only by Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane (17) – before joining City in a £59 million (S$99 million) move on Jan 23.
Causing plenty of trouble for the Chelsea defence in the opening 45 minutes, his industry up front helped peg the visitors back.
“I think in the first half you could see he has something special. That is obviously the reason Manchester City bought him,” said Haaland.
“It’s about giving him confidence. He’s going to be a fantastic player for us.
“He had an amazing first half of the season for Eintracht Frankfurt. Hopefully, he’s going to have the same second half of the season for us.”
Guardiola also praised Marmoush, saying: “Really good. That connection with other players and incredible movement. It is the first game, and he deals with the change and he makes unbelievable movements.”
In contrast, Khusanov, who joined from French side Lens earlier in the week, had a debut to forget.
The 20-year-old centre-back, who is the first Uzbek to play in the Premier League, looked overwhelmed at times and his nerves were not helped by gifting Chelsea the opener.
He did not properly connect with an attempted header back towards his own goal, allowing Nicolas Jackson to pounce to tee up Madueke for a tap-in.
Moments later, Khusanov was fortunate to get away with only a yellow card for chopping down Cole Palmer and was replaced by John Stones in the 54th minute.
But he received the backing of Guardiola, who said: “It is not easy for him. He trains once, and then to play against Jackson and Cole and Madueke and (Jadon) Sancho, it is a process when you buy a player this young. He will learn.”
City equalised in the 42nd minute as both fullbacks got into the fray. After right-back Matheus Nunes was denied by Sanchez, the ball fell for left-back Gvardiol to roll into an empty net.
The tactic of hitting long balls from goalkeeper Ederson to Haaland turned the game decisively in City’s favour.
The burly 1.94m Norwegian shrugged off Trevoh Chalobah to chip in his 24th goal of the season in the 68th minute.
In the 87th minute, he teed up Foden for City’s third and the England international’s sixth goal in his last four league games.
The victory is a shot in the arm for Guardiola’s men, who face a huge week ahead as they must beat Club Brugge at home on Jan 29 to avoid an early exit from the Champions League, before travelling to second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League next weekend.
“After (conceding the goal), emotionally, we came back,” said the Spanish manager. “It’s really, really important for our final Wednesday and for the next games.”
Haaland is hoping they can kick on after a fourth win in five league games.
“When we had the start like we did, it is difficult but we played really well and we kept on going and kept on going,” he said.
“We kept pushing and second half was the same. In the end, it is what we need to do.”
Chelsea, who have won just once in their last seven league games, fell to sixth behind the Magpies and will once again reflect on the need to upgrade on goalkeeper Sanchez, after his positioning led to Haaland’s crucial goal.
“I think the second goal changed the mood,” said Blues boss Enzo Maresca. “We trust Robert for sure, but in the same moment he is aware that he is making mistakes.” AFP, REUTERS
