Brentford star Igor Thiago reveals how Erling Haaland is helping improve his game

Brentford striker Igor Thiago has revealed he regularly studies Erling Haaland as he attempts to improve his movement and become an even more dangerous Premier League goalscorer.

The Brazilian emerged as one of the division’s leading forwards last season, scoring 22 Premier League goals and finishing behind only Manchester City star Haaland, who struck 27 times.

Thiago finished with 25 goals in all competitions and earned a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad before remaining with Brentford during the summer transfer window.

Thiago is already among the Premier League's most productive forwards, but the Brentford striker continues to study some of his rivals for ways to improve.

“Haaland, João Pedro, and Isak as well when he comes back,” Thiago said when discussing the strikers he admires.

“I think they’re strikers whose style of play I like, what they deliver. I think by watching them play, I learn as well.

“They’re the strikers who inspire me and who I also look up to.”

Haaland, however, appears to be the player Thiago studies most closely.

Thiago believes Haaland’s remarkable scoring numbers are the result of far more than simply being an excellent finisher.

The Brazilian regularly watches footage of the Manchester City striker to analyse the movements that consistently put him into goalscoring positions.

“I used to watch Haaland to see the movements he made on the pitch because it’s not normal for a guy to score so many goals,” he explained.

“It’s no coincidence that a guy scores as many goals as he does. So I kept watching to understand the movements he made, so I could do the same.”

After scoring 22 league goals himself last season, Thiago's own numbers suggest that attention to detail is already producing results.

One aspect of Haaland’s game stands above everything else for the Brentford forward: his timing.

“His timing is perfect,” Thiago said.

“With runs in behind, he understands very well when to attack the space, when not to, and when to run towards the near post. He understands that moment very well.”

Thiago also highlighted Haaland’s ability to recognise when to attack the far post or make a run behind the defensive line.

Those decisions may appear straightforward, but Thiago believes mastering them is what separates the best centre-forwards from the rest.

“I think those are the things that make the difference for a striker and keep him one step ahead of everyone else.”

Thiago’s admiration for Haaland is particularly interesting after the pair finished near the top of the Premier League scoring charts last season.

The Brentford striker demonstrated that his physical strength and finishing can already cause major problems for Premier League defenders.

Now he is looking at the finer details of elite centre-forward play to improve further.

Rather than simply attempting to beat Haaland in the goalscoring charts, Thiago is studying the Manchester City star to understand exactly what has made him the benchmark.

Thiago will now look to build on his 22-goal Premier League campaign and establish himself once again among the division’s leading scorers.

Haaland remains the obvious benchmark after beating him to the Golden Boot last season, but Thiago has already demonstrated that he can compete near the top of the scoring charts.

Continuing to refine his movement inside and around the penalty area could help the Brentford striker close that gap further this season.