Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland has claimed that he has never spoken to his father about the 2001 Manchester Derby - and Roy Keane's brutal challenge.

“These games mean everything to the fans. It’s another game, but I also know that derby games are so much more intense. “I haven’t spoken to my father about this game, but I know he will be in the stands watching,” Haaland “I haven’t spoken to my father about this game, but I know he will be in the stands watching…” However, speaking ahead of this weekend’s Manchester Derby between Man City and Man United, Erling has claimed that he has not spoken to his father about the tackle before. Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has claimed that he has never spoken to his father about the 2001 Manchester Derby – and Roy Keane’s brutal challenge.

Erling Haaland admits it's his “dream to win the Champions League” and praised boss Pep Guardiola as almost telepathic in his reading of the game.

Asked how he aims to improve his game, Haaland said: "I think to connect with the team when I have to. All the balls he would shoot in and there was nobody there, you know, it's a dream for a striker and you can see this season how it is. There are going to be a couple [of tickets for Sunday] but it's going to be a nice game. "We relax a lot, we joke a lot together. But Erling stresses that he hasn’t spoken with his dad too much ahead of the intriguing encounter. "But we talk about a lot of small, different details - against this team maybe do this, against this team do that, so there are a lot of details. "You can feel it here a little bit more here and there. I don't want to go out on the side - what should I do there? But my dream is to win the Champions League." As footballers, we have pressure on us every day, we have exams every single weekend and that's just how my life will be for the next 10 or 15 years. “I have this thought quite often," Haaland said. Despite their relative dominance in English football since the arrival of Guardiola, the Champions League has remained elusive for City.

Haaland, 22, has spoken about the pivotal role ex-United striker and manager Solskjaer played in developing this particularly potent facet of his game.

Erling Haaland tells all on how he was taught how to head the ball powerfully by Man United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when at Molde having struggled aerially before... I tired to head it straight and we did it so much. Then that's also a motivation to become better.' Solskjaer's former club United head to the Etihad Stadium to take on City on Sunday The Norwegian has started life in the Premier League in incredible fashion with 11 goals in just seven outings and Haaland will be desperate to add to that total at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon. [Erling Haaland](/sport/erling-haaland/index.html) has revealed [Manchester United](/sport/teampages/manchester-united.html) legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer taught him how to head the ball properly as he prepares for his first derby with [Manchester City](/sport/teampages/manchester-city.html).