Quick Read
- Erling Haaland scored the decisive penalty in Manchester City’s 2-1 Champions League win over Real Madrid.
- Haaland attributes his ‘old school’ mentality—including never wearing gloves—to his father’s influence.
- Manchester City climbed to fourth in the Champions League table, while Real Madrid dropped to seventh.
- Madrid coach Xabi Alonso faces mounting pressure after successive home defeats.
- Haaland’s obsession with football extends beyond the pitch, shaping his daily life and mentality.
Haaland’s Decisive Penalty: The Night Madrid Trembled
It was one of those nights at the Bernabeu—the kind that football fans remember for years. Real Madrid, with its storied legacy and unforgiving home crowd, found itself on the wrong end of another Champions League thriller. Rodrygo fired Los Blancos ahead, finally breaking a long goal drought. But Manchester City clawed back, first through Nico O’Reilly, then, when the stakes were highest, Erling Haaland coolly slotted home a penalty. The result: a 2-1 victory that sent shockwaves through Madrid and heaped more pressure on Xabi Alonso, the embattled coach.
This wasn’t just another win for Pep Guardiola’s side. It was a statement—one delivered through grit, composure, and Haaland’s trademark poise. The Norwegian’s finish wasn’t flashy; it was clinical, underlining why he’s become one of the most feared strikers in world football. “It’s difficult to come here, it’s a tough place to come,” Haaland told TNT Sports after the match, his words underscoring the gravity of the moment.
The Rituals That Shape a Champion: No Gloves, No Nonsense
Yet, there’s more to Haaland than just goals. His approach to football is distinctly ‘old school’—a mentality forged not only by his own drive but by the influence of his father, Alfie Haaland, himself a former Manchester City player. As revealed to ESPN, Erling refuses to wear gloves on the pitch, no matter the temperature. “It’s because my father would hit me if I did,” he laughed, recalling Alfie’s tough-love attitude. For Haaland, running and tackling are as much a part of the game’s charm as scoring itself.
That physicality, that relentless energy, is obvious every time he steps onto the field. It’s not just about putting the ball in the net—it’s about grinding down defenders, chasing lost causes, and leading by example. Haaland’s ‘never gloves’ ritual isn’t superstition; it’s a badge of honor, a nod to a generation that prized toughness over comfort.
Family, Football, and the Road Not Taken
Haaland’s relationship with his father goes beyond tactical advice and motivational speeches. Alfie once dreamed of his son becoming a professional golfer, going so far as to make Erling practice golf weekly from age 10 to 13. “His biggest dream was me becoming a professional golfer,” Haaland revealed. But football was the true obsession—one that, according to Haaland, occasionally frustrates those around him. “We were eating dinner and I checked if there were any games… My missus said, I’m so sick of football, we watch it all the time and I’m like, yeah, that’s the reason why we are sitting here.”
These candid moments pull back the curtain on the man behind the goals—a football fanatic, raised in a household where sporting discipline was the norm, and where even the smallest details (like gloves) became a matter of principle.
The Pressure Cooker: Champions League Drama and Madrid’s Unrest
While Haaland celebrated, Real Madrid was left searching for answers. The defeat marked their second consecutive home loss, and the Bernabeu, a fortress for so long, felt suddenly vulnerable. The mood was tense—players slumped, fans divided between whistles and applause. Xabi Alonso, facing mounting scrutiny, tried to stay composed in his post-match interview: “None of us have anything to reproach ourselves for. We tried until the end. We began the game very well (then) in 10 minutes, with a corner and a penalty, they went ahead.”
Thibaut Courtois, Madrid’s goalkeeper, echoed the frustration. “We played a good game, it was all going well, we scored to go 1-0 up. Then the 1-1 goal was obviously a bit of a mistake from me… The equaliser gave them confidence, then came the penalty, which I’d have to see again, but I thought there was a push on Rudiger.”
As the dust settled, Madrid’s squad lined up behind their coach. Jude Bellingham insisted that “the season isn’t over because we’ve had a bad spell of form,” while Rodrygo’s goal celebration—embracing Alonso—was a public display of unity in adversity.
The Champions League Landscape: City’s Ascent, Madrid’s Crisis
For Manchester City, the victory was more than three points—it was a psychological boost after a tough loss to Leverkusen. Guardiola, ever the perfectionist, tempered celebrations with realism: “We are not ready. We have been here in the past, played much better than today, and we have lost. The players made an incredible effort but there is still much to improve.”
The win also came in the context of injuries on both sides. With Kylian Mbappe benched for PSG’s match elsewhere, Haaland acknowledged the mental edge gained when top opponents are missing: “You don’t want any injuries but we expected him to play… When a player like Kylian doesn’t play, you’re not happy because you want to play against the best, but it gives you a bit of a psychological boost.”
City now climb to fourth in the league-phase table, poised to finish in the top eight. Madrid, meanwhile, drop to seventh, their Champions League ambitions wobbling.
Beyond the Numbers: The Human Story of Haaland
It’s easy to get lost in statistics—Haaland’s 100 Premier League goals in 111 matches, his relentless run of form. But the story within the story is about character: the quiet rituals, the family influence, the obsession that fuels greatness. For Haaland, every match is a chance to prove something—not just to fans or managers, but to himself and the principles instilled from childhood.
In a world where football is increasingly shaped by technology, analytics, and comfort, Haaland’s refusal to wear gloves seems trivial. Yet, it’s precisely this resistance to change—this stubbornness—that sets him apart. He’s a throwback, a striker who would rather brave the cold than compromise his values, a player whose love for the game is both raw and contagious.
Haaland’s latest Champions League heroics are a testament not just to his talent, but to the mindset that powers it. In a high-pressure arena, where every moment is scrutinized and every detail matters, it’s the small things—the rituals, the upbringing, the relentless passion—that define greatness. As City celebrate and Madrid regroup, football fans should take note: sometimes, it’s the old-school edge that makes all the difference.