Erling Haaland declared confidence that Manchester City will defeat the Premier League in their landmark hearing over financial impropriety after signing a mega nine-year contract.
City are in Paris to face the Ligue 1 giants on Wednesday, needing at least one victory from their remaining two Champions League group games to progress into next month’s playoff round.
Pep Guardiola’s side are now unbeaten in six matches in all competitions and look more buoyant after Haaland committed the majority of his career to them.
Haaland insisted that the charges looming over the Premier League champions – with the severest available punishment being relegation from the top flight – hadn’t entered his thoughts before penning fresh terms amounting to a basic wage of around £500,000 a week.
‘I’m confident that the club know what they’re doing,’ Haaland said. ‘I haven’t thought of that or anything. I have confidence in them.
‘In the end I really don’t think I should speak too much about this because I’ve (only) been here two-and-a-half years, but I’m confident that the club knows what they’re doing.’
Erling Haaland has declared confidence that Manchester City will win their case against the Premier League
Haaland has committed the next nine years to City by signing a new £500,000-a-week deal
Man City are now unbeaten in six matches in all competitions after thrashing Ipswich 6-0
City are pressing on with a £300million redevelopment of the Etihad Stadium and so far this week have spent £62m on two new central defenders – Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens and Palmeiras teenager Vitor Reis, both of whom are training with the team but ineligible for the tie at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
They will be joined by Egypt’s Omar Marmoush for over £60m after the forward completed his medical before sealing a switch from Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday.
A central midfielder remains a position to strengthen, with Douglas Luiz at Juventus keen on a temporary move. Kyle Walker is finalising a loan exit to AC Milan, with City keeping tabs on Juve full back Andrea Cambiaso.
Marmoush will lighten the goalscoring load on Haaland, who admitted surprise at the length of contract offered to him by City.
‘It’s a really good sign,’ Haaland added. ‘Of course it’s a bit unusual. It’s not normal. That’s also something I like. In the end it felt good for both parties. It was an easy choice.
‘When I signed for City I felt like it was home. I really meant it. I feel so happy, my family is so happy. In the end that is what I wanted.
‘The people I spoke with made me convinced that this was the right choice. I really look forward to spending so many more years in Manchester, it’s going to be amazing.
‘I feel like a really positive energy in the club. It’s been a hard period, everyone knows that. We’ve trained really good, we’re over that now and we’re looking ahead.’
Manchester City are pressing on with a £300million redevelopment of the Etihad Stadium
City have also spent £62m on two new centre-backs, including Abdukodir Khusanov (right)
The ex-Dortmund star admitted he instantly felt ‘at home’ with the Premier League champions
Guardiola is without Jeremy Doku and Nathan Ake in Paris but has welcomed back John Stones after the defender’s featured for just 45 minutes in the last two months.
Fresh faces should reinvigorate City, who now meet all five others inside the top six – plus crucial European fixtures – over the next month and a half.
‘Now comes the toughest period of the season in terms of opponents,’ Guardiola said. ‘If you see the calendar, you’ll say, “WOW! What are we going to play?!” But the challenge is there and we’ll go for it.’
Meanwhile, Rodri – out for the season with a knee injury – travelled with City to the French capital as he reintegrates himself back into the group.