Not to alarm the West Ham United defenders who face him next, but Erling Haaland has started doing extra training drills after sessions. That is unlikely to be something Konstantinos Mavropanos and Max Kilman relish reading.
Now with hat-tricks in more than 10 per cent of his Premier League games and four goals already this season, Haaland is staying behind to perfect his all-round game after realising that his body will allow him additional time to hone what fundamentally are the basics.
Time that was not afforded last year, owing to hip and ankle problems as City wrapped him up between matches.
Haaland says he is ‘feeling better than ever’ following an elongated summer and, despite some exchanges with Pep Guardiola during pre-season about his willingness to push himself on tour, looks more refined than at any point over the last 12 months.
City are using the opportunity, when the schedule allows, to do supplementary work with their hulking No 9, who after two games is a sixth of the way to the Golden Boot benchmark of recent Premier League, Years BH. Years Before Haaland.
Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Manchester City beat Ipswich 4-1 on Saturday afternoon
‘I had the feeling that he is sharper,’ Guardiola said. ‘After training sessions he stays longer to practise the crosses and controls. Last season it never happened because he was not perfect. With his body he has to be perfect to perform at that level. Last season was fine.’
More than fine, he netted 27 league goals in 31 games but still City want more out of him.
Not necessarily in the artistic intricacies of their build-up, his frame doesn’t actually allow for much of that; more of a focal point who scoops two markers under each arm.
He has always occupied defenders well but last season you really had to study him to notice. Guardiola wants it to become more obvious, beastly in its rawest form.
‘I like when he runs a lot,’ the City boss added. ‘I like when he presses like an animal. It helps to score a goal. When you are connected defensively, you are connected offensively.
‘His body language… imagine a central defender has the ball and he makes a sprint with this body and legs moving. It’s scary. And helps us with the people in the middle to support him. And then we are more effective in our high pressing.
‘We need him. This is not negotiable. If you don’t score a goal, it’s fine. But you need to do it.’
Striker Haaland, 24, pictured smiling with City manager Pep Guardiola after being subbed off
Haaland’s third against Ipswich Town on Saturday, late on with the contest effectively finished, came on the swivel outside the box, a rarity that points to bulging confidence.
Kieran McKenna’s side had given them a fright earlier on, new signing Sammie Szmodics scoring on the break, and appear to offer a threat a fair few will struggle to cope with.
Guardiola eventually felt comfortable enough with 19 minutes left to introduce Ilkay Gundogan for a second debut after just one session with the team.
The veteran — who sounds like he fancies a job with Guardiola when he retires, while pointing out he’s still got plenty of playing to do — studied City from afar during his year away and noted criticism of Haaland.
‘When he didn’t score for one, two, three games, there were people already criticising,’ he said. “Is he fitting the team?” Dealing with that at such a young age is not so easy but I have to say his behaviour inside the dressing room, his attitude, the way he is with people, is just incredible.’
Then, as a paid-up Guardiola disciple, Gundogan almost echoed his manager and next-door neighbour: ‘I don’t even think that he needs to improve.
‘Just try to maintain that level and try to get the goals, because that is his main job, work for the team, keep the ball, make it easier for players around him because at the end it is going to be easier for himself.’
Haaland has now scored 67 goals in 68 Premier League games, including seven hat-tricks
