What did Dortmund’s sporting director say about Haaland?
Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl told Bild that Haaland was not a positive influence in the dressing room before his move to Manchester City.
Erling Haaland joined Manchester City during the summer transfer window and although the loss of such a prolific goalscorer is never easy, apparently the Norwegian is not being particularly missed at Borussia Dortmund. Sebastian Kehl, the club’s sporting director, told German outlet Bild in an interview that the presence of the Norwegian striker ended up being a burden both inside the dressing room and within the club.
Dortmund on Haaland: “The timing of the sale was right”
“As much as we have always appreciated Erling and the successes he achieved while wearing our shirt, in the end the matter had definitely become a bit of a burden, both in the dressing room and for the club. In general, for the whole environment, it was just him. The timing of the sale was right, both for us and for City. The fact that our first 10 goals this season have been scored by 10 different players shows that.”
“In general, for the whole environment, it was just him. The timing of the sale was right, both for us and for City”
“I would have liked to have been certain [about the Norwegian’s departure] a little earlier, because that issue limited our preparation. Without him, we have the possibility to place our trust in other players,” Kehl added, just a few days before Haaland returns to Dortmund with Manchester City in the Champions League (Wednesday, 9:00 pm).
City paid Haaland’s €60 million release clause to secure the Norwegian’s services and with add-ons the cost of the operation could rise to around €100 million. As it stands, City’s move is paying off. Haaland has scored 10 goals and provided one assist in six Premier League games so far and opened his account in the Champions League with two goals against Sevilla for a total of 12 in seven.