Speaking to the former Eintracht Frankfurt striker and fellow Norwegian Jan Age Fjortoft for Norwegian broadcaster Viasport after scoring a first hat-trick against Augsburg, the 19-year-old shared his take on how his life at Dortmund began.
Click on the video above to watch the interview in Norwegian, with the full English transcript described below:
Jan Age Fjortoft: I don’t know what kind of introduction I have, we are all very satisfied on your behalf. I don’t know where to start. However, you are here and you have to tell us. . . You were playing Bundesliga football and after 183 seconds you scored your first goal. I think I’ll start with an undeniable question. How do you feel now?
Erling Haaland: “If I’m honest, not much right now. I don’t think I dealt with what happened, so I’m pretty calm right now. “
Fjortoft: You seem to be calmer than the other people around you. After you scored your third goal for Dortmund, the press officer came running and talking about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored three goals in his 17th blouse in 2017. .
Haaland: “It’s pretty crazy. When my father and I were at this club, we were looking for all the players who could take me [to goal]. And you can see that today there is an excessive quality within this team. After only a few minutes on the field, Jadon gave me a better pass. And then there are guys like Hazard and Reus, who are very intelligent players. “
Watch: Haaland’s very good first hat-trick
Fjortoft: The objective of the moment is perhaps revealing in terms of the team you have chosen. You’re purposely in a two-on-one, and Hazard makes the decision to send you the ball elegantly. . .
Haaland: “That’s right. That’s good, that’s the way it is. It’s only been a few weeks since I arrived and it’s special to arrive at a new club, but it’s crazy how much I feel like I’m part of the team already. The atmosphere within the team is excellent. “
Fjortoft: You sat on the bus today on your way to this stadium. I don’t think you’re the biggest dreamer in the world, however, you had to think about what was going to happen. You knew you were starting the game on the bench. What kind of scenarios went through your head?
Haaland: “I imagined scoring one goal, which turned into two goals when they took a two-goal lead. I had this idea that I would score before the game and that’s what happened. “
Fjortoft: It seemed like the best time to bring you with the score 2-1, but after they told you to prepare, the other team took a 3-1 lead. What went through your brain at that moment?
Haaland: “Well, at the time I thought I had to score a hat-trick, and things would work out [if I did], and I did. “
Fjortoft: How do you absorb all this? I know you’re a very calm person, but I see things start to boil sometimes. Do you think you’ll be able to absorb all this after a while?Now you play football in Germany, one of the biggest football nations in the world. . .
Haaland: “Yes, that’s right. It’s possibly not the biggest club in Germany, but it’s great. I have a smart life right now. “
Fjortoft: You have an intelligent life. You had several characteristics in terms of clubs to join. Now that you’ve been here for a few weeks, what do you like most about this club?When you talked to your father after visiting several clubs, you told him, “You know what, this is where I have to go. “
Haaland: “What I like the most is the fact that other people are down to earth here and how well they’ve beaten me. I may be myself from the beginning. It works right out of the box. It’s amazing how I won through the staff. and the players. “
Fjortoft: Now that state here with the fit ball. . . You have to show us this fit ball, I’m very satisfied because you have it in your hands. . .
Haaland: “You can have the ball. “
Now that you’re here with the match ball, think about the fact that Lucien Favre told you that you were a starter on the bench, before the two home games against Cologne and Union Berlin. So, obviously, there was a plan in place. Your debut has been in a house game. Do you feel like you’ve ruined Favre’s total plan?
Haaland: “No, I hope not! But you never know. There’s been a smart plan in place so far, so we remain attached to that plan. “
Fjortoft: The team you’re betting on lately, with Sancho, Hazard and everyone around you. What is your favorite position?Do you need to play up front?Or do you need those guys to run around you? Given your position, do you need to be with other people around or do you need an attack partner?
Haaland: “I don’t care, if I’m absolutely honest. Everyone here has talent. It worked well today and it’s the coach who makes the decision of how we deserve to play. It is up to us to fulfill the land. And you can see that the connection with the other players is already in place. It’s like that with such talented players playing at such a high level. “
Fjortoft: Many German hounds have asked me what kind of person you are. I answer their question by telling them that your greatest characteristic is your attitude. You’re from Jæren and you come from an intelligent circle of relatives who raised you well, and I think it’s vital to say that. We are in a country where stars are born overnight. How are you going to keep your feet on the ground?
Haaland: “I just have to stay true to myself. I’m just a Bryne guy, and I’m still that and it hasn’t changed. That’s what it is, I just want to be me. “
Fjortoft: You talked about the players and Favre. I don’t know if you know him well, but he’s absolutely crazy about football. Watch videos and all that all the time. What’s your role?How does he need you to play for this team?
Haaland: “It needs me to be an increasingly vital component of the team, slowly but surely. I feel like I’ve done it before. I just want to be myself. They bought me for a reason, and I know I just want to be myself and play my game and things will work out in the end. “
Fjortoft: Tell us, which one did you enjoy in the stands today?Have you made eye contact?
Haaland: “No, I didn’t see my father in the stands. It’s going to be strange to see him tonight. “
Fjortoft: How long did you go through this process?First you moved from Jæren to Molde, then you moved from Molde to Salzburg and now you probably take the biggest step by joining Dortmund. Now you play football in front of 81,000 spectators at Signal Iduna Park.
Haaland: “We’ve had a close bond, especially in terms of football. And it is, but it really goes for the whole family. Yes, we have a close relationship and I’m grateful for that. “
Fjortoft: Have you found accommodation in Dortmund, and how temporarily will things evolve, allowing you to take care of everything you want to keep busy, adding movement?How was it, the steps you took regarding those things?
Haaland: “It’s having your father there. He took care of all those things. “
Fjortoft: Now let’s take one last look at fitball.
Haaland: “You can. “
Fjortoft: Can I hold it? It’s a very good fit ball. You scored a hat-trick in the Champions League. Didn’t you also do a hat-trick with Molde at the beginning?You made 4 in a match.
Haaland: “Yes, Brann. “
Fjortoft: All you have to do is move on.
Haaland: “yes, keep going. “
Fjortoft: Congratulations on your achievements today, I can say that on behalf of all Norwegians.
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