Erling Haaland admitted he was bemused after being targeted by a chant about Marc Cucurella but insisted he didn't care after brushing off the Spaniard to score in Manchester City's 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday.
Erling Haaland responded perfectly to Marc Cucurella taunts towards him when they met at the opening game of the 2024/25 season, by scoring a well placed shot across goal right in the face of the Euro 2024 champion.
Cucurella celebrated Spain’s triumph last month in Germany by singing a popular terrace chant that praises him before mocking the Norwegian striker.
“Cucu, Cucurella, he eats paella, Cucu, Cucurella, he drinks Estrella, Haaland you’d better tremble as Cucurella is coming,” the chant goes.
City’s first attack against Chelsea was to deliver a high ball for Haaland to win against the diminutive left-back. The striker then held off Cucurella to score City’s opener before the left-back was substituted late in the game to chants and boos by supporters of the visiting team before Mateo Kovacic wrapped up the three points with a brilliant run and finish towards the end of the second half.
Owing to the way things turned out at the Bridge, that stunt pulled by the Spaniard seemed to have little effect on Haaland, who later revealed afte the game, Cucurella had asked him for a jersey swap last year.
“The guy asked for my shirt last season and now he’s singing bad stuff about me. He can do what he wants, I couldn’t care less. It was an interesting song from that guy. I don’t have much more to say.”
“It’s three points and a perfect start. First game is always hard for everyone, it doesn’t matter if you have a pre-season or not,” Haaland added.
Speaking further, he says;
“I actually had a long pre-season so that’s good. I don’t actually feel perfect because I’m not in the perfect shape, but yeah it’s good to start and to win.”
“Of course I want to get more involved, that’s what Pep wants. But in a game like this, do I need to be more involved? I don’t know. This is the million dollar question. Of course I want to improve as an overall player with the ball. I want to give more assists back to the players that give me assists.”
“I want to become an overall better footballer, like a player, not in terms of goals or anything, just a player.”
The goal continued Haaland’s incredible record since signing for City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, bagging his 91st strike on his 100th appearance for the club.
Speaking further, he says;
