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Haaland: Solskjaer tought me how to score

Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland has heaped praise on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for helping him develop as a top-class goal scorer.

The Norway frontman has 40 goals in 33 games this season for both RB Salzburg and Dortmund after making the move to the latter in January.

The 19-year-old though was not always as ruthless in front of goal and has recalled working with Solskjaer missing chance after chance.

Haaland was handed his debut just three years ago by Solskjaer at Molde, and it looked as though the two would be reunited in January at Old Trafford,

The Independent claimed that United offered the best package to Haaland of any of the interested clubs, which included RB Leipzig and Juventus, but Haaland opted for Dortmund, with other talk suggesting United were not happy with the demands of his agent Mino Raiola.

"Well, Dortmund have signed a fantastic boy, I can't answer more than that," was the only response Solskjaer gave on the matter in January.

There's no doubt though the role that Solskjaer has played in Haaland's development and the forward has revealed as much.

"I remember it was frustrating as a young striker, everything goes against you in training," Haaland told Eurosport.

"I was alone with the keeper and the bar, got crosses from Ole Gunnar, but I missed on every opportunity. I remember Ole then said, 'I think you start this game, so just be ready.'

"Solskjaer and I did some practice on finishing," he added. "Not just crosses. I remember he taught me some easy rules.

"The first one was one-touch (finishes). That I don't use too much power and trying to destroy the goal or the goalie with the ball. I think that I was thinking about doing that and it was something new that he told me. I trained a bit on that, but without scoring. But at least I had it in my head after that training session.

"He has taught me a lot to be calm, and also be on your toes and come to those situations where the ball is coming," he added. "It is then you have the chance to score. He deserves a lot of credit for teaching me that."

- TEAMtalk media

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