- 9 Nov 2024
Haaland nemesis: I will move to Barcelona!
The Gibraltar defender who silenced Erling Braut Haaland has explained how he did it and has also offered his services to Barcelona.
Aymen Mouelhi successfully marked Haaland in Wednesday’s World Cup Group G qualifier against Norway.
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Although Norway won the game 3-0, Haaland failed to score and Mouelhi earned praise after the match.
The 34-year-old centre-back is not even a professional – working in the travel industry full time – and he has explained how he managed to stop a striker who has plundered 33 goals in 31 games for Dortmund this season.
Haaland: Statistics in 2020/21
Category | Statistic |
---|---|
Games | 36 |
Starts | 35 |
Goals | 39 |
Assists | 8 |
Man of the match | 11 |
“Playing against these types of top players, you have to prepare for everything,” Mouelhi told Onda Cero.
“We knew that he and the other striker like space, so we tried not to give him space because he is very, very quick and strong.
“You have to be focused because he doesn’t give you a second. He can make a movement and make you go crazy.
“You have to always be talking with your defensive teammates.
“He is a very good player. I think he is the most dangerous player I have faced. But I almost expected more from him.”
Mouelhi: I will replace Pique!
Mouelhi also revealed that he is a Barcelona fan and jokingly offered his services to the Spanish giants.
Barca are on the look-out for centre-backs this summer, with a long-term replacement for veteran defender Gerard Pique a priority.
“I’ll go to take Pique’s place,” he laughed.
“Speak with Koeman!
Mouelhi was absent in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Montenegro as the qualification campaign continued, while Haaland hit another blank as Norway lost 3-0 at home to Turkey.