"Do I need to be that more involved?"
Erling Haaland is praised for his goalscoring prowess but one aspect of his game that gets criticised is his lack of match involvement.
After Manchester City’s opening-day victory against Chelsea, Haaland became the first player to complete just three passes in a full match under Pep Guardiola.
This statistic added fuel to the fire of the question – can a striker be considered world-class if he hardly touches the ball?
Haaland has faced scrutiny for averaging low touch counts in games.
In fact, his touch count is the lowest of any player to score three or more goals in Europe’s big five leagues since the start of last season. Despite this, his goal tally is mindblowing.
The 2024/25 Premier League season is just four games in and Haaland already has nine goals, including back-to-back hat-tricks.
His average hat-trick count is one in every 9.7 games while his six touches per shot remain the lowest of any player in Europe.
Haaland is now three Premier League hat-tricks shy of Alan Shearer and four behind Sergio Aguero’s record of 12.
It is only a matter of time before he breaks the record.
And this season, he could become the first player since Thierry Henry to win the Golden Boot three years in a row.
So if Erling Haaland is doing the most important thing in matches, which is scoring, does his lack of overall involvement really matter?
Redefining the Role of a Number 9
When it comes to the archetypal striker, key attributes differ.
But most football fans and pundits refer to many of Erling Haaland’s best strengths.
He is strong, fast, direct, aerially smart and clinical when it comes to goalscoring, especially inside the six-yard box.
According to Jamie Redknapp, Haaland has “brought strikers back into fashion”.
When compared with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, the assertion rings particularly true.
In the 2023/24 Premier League season, Watkins won ‘playmaker of the year’, with 13 assists.
Meanwhile, Haaland won the Golden Boot for outscoring every competitor by at least five goals.
Within Unai Emery’s fluid system, Watkins is actively encouraged to drop deep to get involved in team play but scored eight fewer goals than his Manchester City counterpart.
The England international also had fewer expected goals, took fewer shots on target, spent less time with the ball in the opponent’s box, and won the ball back less often in dangerous areas.
Even the most modern No. 9s – except maybe Harry Kane – can’t match Haaland’s incredible scoring rate.
Nor can they compete with his skill at focusing almost all his best work in the final third, whether his team has the ball or not. He’s now encouraged to do this even more.
As well as goals, Haaland’s main strength is his positional discipline, trusted to avoid the majority of ball progression and build-up phases, in favour of being the ultimate finisher.
After the opening weekend of the 2024/25 season, Haaland said:
“My job isn’t to be like Rodri, to control a game. It’s being in the box and finishing the attacks.”
“Do I need to be that more involved? That’s the million-dollar question.”
Based on his start to the season, it suggests that his lack of involvement is not an issue.
Does he Affect the Game without Touching the Ball?
Erling Haaland has a fear factor that very few strikers possess.
His presence is enough to unnerve even the top defenders in world football.
Teams adjust to the danger Haaland poses, even before he makes a move.
Haaland understands, and Guardiola agrees, that he’s a beast in the 18-yard box – arguably the best in the world.
But outside of the area, he doesn’t have to be world-class, and he doesn’t need to be.
In May 2024, Haaland reminded his critics:
“In the end, you can play football without touching the ball.”
“You can do it with movements, the mental part, and the awareness. If I can stretch centre-backs with a run, it’s hard, but it’s my job.”
Instead of getting frustrated and chasing play, Haaland waits for the right opportunity.
The Norwegian waits and delays. And when the timing is right, he strikes.
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards said:
“His movement is so smart.
“The speed at which he does things makes it so difficult to defend against. Once you get into a race with him, it’s over.”
This has meant Haaland has been more clinical than ever, with nine goals in four games. He has scored more than any other team’s total goals so far.
After beating West Ham, Pep Guardiola said:
“I like when he runs a lot. I like when he presses like an animal.
“There’s no central defender [that can stop him], not even with a gun. He’s so fast, so powerful.”
Enablers
Manchester City has had a near-perfect Premier League in 2024 and Haaland is at the forefront.
But when it comes to his game, his teammates play a big part.
City’s squad is full of technicians who provide opportunities for him.
As Guardiola highlighted: “What we need is the team to play better and better to give him [Haaland] more balls in the final third.
“With Rico [Lewis], Kevin [De Bruyne], [Ilkay] Gundogan, Bernardo [Silva], [James] McAtee, we’re going to create those situations because they’re really good in small spaces.”
Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, Savinho and Jack Grealish are the others who can provide key passes for Haaland.
Would more involvement benefit Haaland or would it overcomplicate things?
Guardiola added: “He’s playing much better in everything.
“The details, he stays 20 minutes or half an hour after training sessions. I’m really pleased for him.”
In the 2024/25 Premier League season, Erling Haaland has once again silenced any doubts about his lack of match involvement.
With another blistering start, Haaland’s ability to score goals at a breathtaking rate proves that his style is not just effective – it’s revolutionary.
While critics may point to his limited touches or participation outside the final third, Haaland continues to do what matters most: put the ball in the back of the net.
In modern football, where fluidity and versatility are often prized, Haaland shows that a striker’s primary job is still to score goals.
His sharp positioning, instinctive finishing, and physical dominance make him a nightmare for defenders, even if he doesn’t seem to be part of the build-up play.
In the end, Haaland’s match involvement may be minimal, but his impact is anything but.
As his goal tally continues to rise, one thing is clear: for Haaland, it’s not about how often he’s involved, but how decisive he is when it matters most.
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