Colin Hendry Struggles to Find an Answer for Stopping Erling Haaland’s Dominance

Former Manchester City defender Colin Hendry opened up about the difficulty of containing Erling Haaland during an exclusive chat with GOAL. Hendry confessed that figuring out how to stop the prolific striker feels almost impossible.

Haaland’s Goal-Scoring Feats at Manchester City

The Norway international has become a global standout, with very few defenders able to hold back his relentless threat. Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes is often viewed as one of the closest challengers, having faced off against Haaland multiple times in Premier League clashes, yet even he has had moments where Haaland's quality was undeniable.

• Premier League goals: 112
• Total goals for Man City: 162
• Appearances: 198
• Golden Boots won: 3
• Part of City’s Treble-winning squad: 2022-23 season

A Long-Term Commitment to the Etihad

Manchester City have secured Haaland on an extraordinary 10-year deal lasting until 2034, signaling their intent to keep him as a central figure for years ahead. Despite ongoing interest from giants like Real Madrid, Haaland remains committed to continuing his success in England.

He aims to add more major trophies to his collection while pushing to reclaim Ballon d’Or glory. The standards he’s set are exceptional, and the key challenge will be maintaining that level.

Is There a Way to Stop Haaland?

With no signs of slowing down, especially after debuting in the World Cup for Norway, many wonder if Haaland has any weaknesses or how defenders could contain him.

When pressed, Hendry gave a candid response: “I’ll answer that, f*ck knows!”

He pointed out how Gabriel Magalhaes manages to handle Haaland, praising the Arsenal defender as a class act. Hendry explained that his approach would be to try to unsettle Haaland, drawing comparisons to facing Ronaldo (R9) back in 1998.

“I’m not saying Haaland is a modern-day Ronaldo,” Hendry said, “but when you think about what centre-backs face against players like these, it’s tough. Haaland running full speed feels like a juggernaut, similar to how Ronaldo was back then. But Haaland is unique right now.”

He named other legendary forwards like Luis Suarez, Sergio Aguero, and Romario, but stressed that none quite match Haaland’s intimidating presence.

Hendry admitted he’d try to get under Haaland’s skin, though he recognized that modern players may not be as physical or fit as in the past. He envisioned defenders going head-to-head with Haaland’s strengths, then attempting to provoke a reaction.

Upcoming Season and Fixtures

As the 2026-27 season approaches, Haaland is back in training at City under new management, with Enzo Maresca taking over from Pep Guardiola. The striker will look to kick off this fresh chapter strongly.

He might feature in the Community Shield against Arsenal in Cardiff on August 16, followed by the Premier League opener against Bournemouth at home on August 23.

• Community Shield: Arsenal vs Manchester City, August 16, 2026, 16:00
• Premier League opener: Manchester City vs Bournemouth, August 23, 2026