Erling Haaland believes Manchester City have found a new weapon as they look to dethrone Premier League champions Arsenal.
Man City began their Champions League campaign with an impressive 2-0 win over Portuguese giants Porto.
After a goalless first half, prolific goalscorer Haaland gave Man City the lead with a 47th-minute header.
The Norwegian superstar put the game to bed with City’s second in injury time, taking his tally for the club to 36 Champions League goals in only 40 appearances.
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Haaland’s form was not the only promising sign for Manchester City, with Enzo Fernandez impressing following his £125m move from Chelsea and £86m signing Ayyoub Bouaddi thriving on his first start for the club.
Man City’s midfield was weekended by Rodri’s £65m move to Barcelona but Etihad bosses appear to have signed well in Fernandez and Bouaddi.
Morocco international Bouaddi only joined City two weeks ago but has already impressed Haaland, who described him as a ‘gem’ and revealed he had told decision-makers at the club that he looked ‘amazing’ in training.
‘I think he played a very good game,’ Haaland said of 18-year-old Bouaddi, who was linked with several Premier League clubs before joining Man City.
‘Last couple of weeks in training, I told the chairman that he has been amazing, so I think we have a gem here.
‘But to be honest, I think he should of played me through in the second half when I was all alone. I was a bit angry, so I will tell him right now, he played a good game, except that pass!’
Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca also praised Bouaddi, describing his performance against Porto as ‘unbelievable’.
‘The good thing is that from Erling [Haaland], Ruben [Dias], Mateo [Kovacic] you expect how to manage this game but Ayyoub was never in panic,’ Maresca told Amazon Prime.
‘He was very good and I think the performance was unbelievable.’
Discussing Man City’s win more generally, ex-Chelsea manager Maresca added: ‘I think we could’ve scored more goals, especially in the first half but overall I think we deserved to win the game.
‘We created enough chances to win the game. We didn’t concede a lot. It’s normal to come here and concede some chances because it’s normal, so overall happy with the performance.
‘I think I am lucky because all the squad is good players, for a manager it is easy because you can give minutes to all of them, and tonight I think the guys that were inside were very good.’
Haaland was also pleased with City’s display out in Portugal, saying: ‘It was a difficult fight, man against man. They are a top team, honestly they are impressive.
‘They play amazing football so well done to them, but with all the pressure [on us] we had to deliver on the biggest stage. That’s what we did today.’
Manchester City suffered a deflating 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield last month but have not put a foot wrong since the season started.
City will look to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League campaign on Sunday when they make the short trip to Old Trafford to face rivals Manchester United.
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