Sebastien Kehl, the sporting director at Borussia Dortmund, has called Erling Haaland a “burden” in his final months with the team.

Erling Haaland's final months at Borussia Dortmund were a "burden,
Erling Haaland’s final months at Borussia Dortmund were a “burden,

This summer, Haaland completed a £52 million transfer from the Bundesliga club where he spent two and a half years scoring an amazing 86 goals in 89 games to Manchester City.

 

With 12 goals in seven games across all competitions this season, including two in Tuesday night’s 4-0 Champions League victory at Sevilla, Haaland has continued to replicate that form for Pep Guardiola’s team.

 

Despite his prolific goal-scoring at Signal Iduna Park, Kehl was critical of how his stardom and the rumors surrounding his future affected the other players as his time at the club came to an end.

As much as we have always appreciated Erling and the success he has had with our jersey, the issue ultimately became burdensome for the team as a whole, according to Kehl, who spoke to the German publication Sport Bild.

 

“In general, it was just him for the entire environment. The sale occurred at the ideal time for both City and us. The fact that ten different players have scored our first ten goals so far this season is evidence of that.

Borussia Dortmund has had a promising start to the season, and their 3-0 victory over FC Copenhagen on the opening day of the Champions League puts them second in the standings on goal differential under new manager Edin Terzic.

Kehl is pleased with Dortmund’s performance under new manager Terzic, who took over for the fired Marco Rose in May, and thinks the entire team has benefited from Haaland’s departure.

“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 trust the other players. The fact that our first ten competitive goals have been scored by ten different players shows that pretty well.”

The timing of Kehl comments could well come back to bite him, though.

Dortmund are scheduled to face Man City in the Champions League group stage next Wednesday, with the Germans set to visit the Etihad Stadium.

And, in his current form, Haaland doesn’t need any more ammunition for his hunger to find the net and continue his red-hot scoring streak.

With 12 goals in seven games across all competitions this season, including two in Tuesday night’s 4-0 Champions League victory at Sevilla, Haaland has continued to replicate that form for Pep Guardiola’s team.

 

Despite his prolific goal-scoring at Signal Iduna Park, Kehl was critical of how his stardom and the rumors surrounding his future affected the other players as his time at the club came to an end.

As much as we have always appreciated Erling and the success he has had with our jersey, the issue ultimately became burdensome for the team as a whole, according to Kehl, who spoke to the German publication Sport Bild.

 

“In general, it was just him for the entire environment. The sale occurred at the ideal time for both City and us. The fact that ten different players have scored our first ten goals so far this season is evidence of that.

Borussia Dortmund has had a promising start to the season, and their 3-0 victory over FC Copenhagen on the opening day of the Champions League puts them second in the standings on goal differential under new manager Edin Terzic.

Kehl is pleased with Dortmund’s performance under new manager Terzic, who took over for the fired Marco Rose in May, and thinks the entire team has benefited from Haaland’s departure.

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