Antoine Semenyo has firmly backed Erling Haaland amid growing scrutiny, insisting the striker’s overall contribution to Manchester City goes far beyond just goals.
Haaland has continued to deliver in front of goal, already matching last season’s Golden Boot tally, yet questions have surfaced about his all-round involvement in City’s build-up play.
However, Semenyo has quickly shut down those claims, pointing instead to the tactical advantages Haaland brings to the team.
“He’s a big problem,” he told In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet.
“Just in the games, when people mark him; it’s not just one person marking him, it’s like three people.
“It’s like [relieved expression] the space for everyone else is fantastic. But he causes so many problems. He’s tall, fast, can finish. [He’s] essentially the complete striker. Anything in the box, he’ll score.”
As the Premier League title race intensifies, City are gearing up for a crucial showdown against Arsenal, where Haaland’s presence could once again be decisive.
While his goal-scoring numbers remain headline-worthy, Semenyo emphasized that the striker’s off-the-ball work and link-up play are equally vital.
“That’s a tough question,” he replied. “He’ll be up there, for sure. His numbers are a scandal. Forty-one goals in one season.
“It’s not even just his goalscoring. What he does for the team, not many people see it but he’s so important. Just holding up the ball, bringing players into play, massively important to our game. He can do a lot of things, I’ll give him that.”
With momentum building and the stakes rising, Manchester City will look to press forward in the title race.
And as the spotlight sharpens, Haaland’s ability to influence both scoring and structure could prove to be the difference-maker in the decisive run-in.
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