Erling Haaland warns Man City must “replace him” if goals dry up after breaking PL record

Erling Haaland has delivered a strikingly honest assessment of his role at Manchester City, insisting that the club must replace him the moment he stops scoring goals. Speaking to Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker on The Rest is Footballpodcast, the Norwegian made clear that the demands of being City’s No.9 leave little room for sentiment.

The 25-year-old has already written himself into Premier League history this season. His goal in City’s wild 5–4 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage saw him reach 100 Premier League goals in just 111 appearances, breaking Shearer’s long-standing record for the fastest century. Haaland now leads the Golden Boot race with 15 league goals, while his overall tally for the campaign stands at 20 goals and three assists in 20 appearances.

Despite that remarkable output, he insists that performance must always come before reputation.

“I’m the striker of City. I have to score goals. If not, they have to replace me,” Haaland said. “Because if I’m not delivering the goals and the things they need, they have to replace me. There is a lot of pressure on me to deliver and to do the job.”

It was a refreshingly unfiltered insight into the mentality driving one of the most prolific forwards in world football.

In our view, Haaland’s comments speak to the competitive mindset that defines elite forwards. His bluntness is not insecurity — it is a reflection of how he frames responsibility. Strikers of his calibre often internalise pressure in a way that becomes fuel rather than burden.

It is also notable how frankly he discusses replacement. Few world-class players acknowledge their potential expendability so openly, but Haaland appears to use it as motivation rather than fear. That mentality is part of why he has adapted so seamlessly to English football and why his production rarely dips for long.

There is, however, nuance worth recognising. Manchester City’s system has increasingly evolved to become less reliant on Haaland’s individual brilliance and more focused on shared creativity through midfield. Yet the Norwegian remains the decisive figure in the final third, and City’s trophy aspirations are still closely linked to his form and availability.

This interview lands at a fascinating moment, as City travel to Madrid for a match that often sets the tone for their Champions League campaigns. Madrid’s centre-backs have struggled with physical forwards this year, and Haaland’s confidence — even with pressure acknowledged — could be a decisive factor. Players rarely issue such public challenges to themselves unless they feel in peak condition.

Manchester City head to the Bernabéu later on today for a potentially defining Champions League night, with Haaland once again central to their hopes of progressing deep into the competition.

👉 City fans — do you like Haaland’s honesty, or is it too blunt for comfort?