Erling Haaland on the brink of achieving lifelong dream of Champions League glory

LONODN: Ever since he watched Manchester United overcome Chelsea on penalties in the 2008 final, Erling Haaland has been in love with the Champions League. So much so that the striker was caught on video listening to the tournament’s anthem in his car while at Red Bull Salzburg and also used it as his wake-up alarm. Haaland dreamed of playing and scoring in the competition — and winning it.

Manchester City bought the 22-year-old last summer from Borussia Dortmund for £52 million ($65 million) and tasked him to help them finally win European football’s biggest prize, having won every major domestic trophy. “I have been coming here for a reason,” said Haaland. But in a surprising confession, he says he feels “pressure” to help deliver that elusive first success — craved by the club’s Abu Dhabi owners since their 2008 takeover.

The Norwegian has had an incredible debut season with the Etihad outfit, scoring a record-breaking 52 goals. Having helped City win the Premier League for a third successive campaign, Haaland was seen shouting “one more” when the side beat Manchester United 2-1 in last weekend’s FA Cup final at Wembley. That one more is the Champions League, with Saturday’s final against three-time winners Inter Milan giving an opportunity for City to become only the 10th European club to win such a treble.

The victors would also get a place in the FIFA Club World Cup, to be held in Saudi Arabia in December, and Haaland said: “It would mean everything, of course (to win it). “Of course I feel pressure. I would lie if I said I didn’t.