Phil Foden has called Erling Haaland a “freak” following his incredible flying backheel goal in Manchester City’s 5-0 UEFA Champions League demolition of Sparta Prague at the Etihad on Wednesday.
Haaland scored twice and was hunting another hat-trick before being substituted in the 81st minute.
A mid-air Haaland met Savinho’s cross with his back to goal, acrobatically backheeling the ball past Sparta goalkeeper Peter Vindahl for City’s second goal.
It started a 10-minute flurry of goals for Pep Guardiola’s side, with John Stones adding a header and Haaland scoring his second not long after.
Foden had opened the scoring in the second minute, but City were unable to find the net again until Haaland’s feat of athleticism in the second half.
“I just spoke to him and said ‘If I tried to do that I’d pull my groin.’ I don’t know how he does it,” Foden said post-match.
“I think it’s just how long his legs are. He’s a freak. I’ve seen him score one similar against Borussia Dortmund, so it shows that he has this talent that no one else can do.”
Foden has started just three games for City this season, having been named the Premier League Player of the Season in 2023/24.
The midfielder picked up the Player of the Match award on Wednesday and looked at his brilliant best.
“The aim is just to try and hit what I hit last year as a player,” he added. “Last year I showed over a long season that I was very consistent and I want to get back there.
“And for the team as well, show we’re still hungry to win trophies, don’t show that we’ve dropped off. I think this year we’re still showing how hungry we are, scoring against Wolves late on and the passion that we’ve shown in the celebration.
“So it just shows we still want to fight for more trophies.
“The players that we are and the type of people we are, we’re grounded. But I think the players we have in the changing with all the experience and the manager I think they keep us grounded as well. It’s good to be a part of this team.”
