Erling Haaland Reflects on His New Hairstyle, Norway’s Historic Brazil Victory and Manchester City’s New Era

Erling Haaland has opened up about his striking new hairstyle, Norway’s memorable victory over Brazil at the World Cup and Manchester City’s evolving squad following their latest Premier League success.
The Norwegian striker was speaking after scoring the only goal in City’s 1-0 victory over Coventry at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. His decisive header ensured that Manchester City maintained a flawless start to the new Premier League campaign, winning each of their first three matches.
While the victory was ultimately decided by Haaland’s contribution in front of goal, the game also provided an opportunity to assess some of the changes taking place within Pep Guardiola’s former side under new manager Enzo Maresca. Several new arrivals are gradually becoming established in the team, while established stars such as Haaland are expected to provide leadership during the transition.
Haaland Delivers Again for City
Manchester City had to work hard for their narrow victory against Coventry, but Haaland once again proved to be the difference-maker.
The striker rose to meet an Antoine Semenyo delivery and produced a powerful header that found the back of the net. His goal was enough to give City all three points and preserve their perfect record after three league matches.
Although the scoreline suggested a tight contest, City demonstrated their ability to control possession and dictate the tempo for long periods. The match also featured the full Premier League debut of £125 million signing Enzo Fernandez, one of the major additions made during the club’s latest rebuilding project.
Another new arrival, Elliot Anderson, also played an important role in the midfield. The summer signing impressed with his ability to retain possession and distribute the ball, completing an impressive 155 accurate passes during the match.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/Erling-Haaland-World-Cup-New-York-New-Jersey-Stadium-cut-hair-082326-5f04c7c3d4f3434094ce190325603777.jpg)
The performances of the new recruits will be closely watched as Maresca attempts to create a new-look Manchester City side capable of competing for major honours.
Haaland Explains His Dramatic New Look
One of the biggest talking points surrounding Haaland this season has not been his performances but his appearance.
The striker has abandoned his familiar long hairstyle and has been sporting a much shorter haircut since the beginning of the campaign. The dramatic change attracted plenty of attention from supporters and the media.
Following City’s win over Coventry, Haaland was asked about his new appearance during an interview with ESPN Brazil.
The Norwegian admitted that the shorter hairstyle was considerably easier to manage and suggested that he simply felt it was the right moment to try something different.
According to Haaland, the decision was motivated by a desire for change rather than anything particularly complicated. Although he likes the new style, he also admitted that he misses his trademark long hair.
He explained that he felt it was time for a transformation and that he had enjoyed the new look so far. However, the striker made it clear that the change is unlikely to be permanent.
Haaland expects his hair to grow back eventually and hopes to return to the longer style in the future.
The comments offered a lighter moment during an interview that also covered some of the most memorable moments of his international career.
Reflecting on Norway’s Historic Win Over Brazil
Haaland was also asked about Norway’s remarkable victory over Brazil, a match in which the Manchester City striker scored twice.
The result carried enormous significance for Norway because of the country’s unusual historical record against the five-time world champions.
Haaland jokingly apologised to Brazil for contributing to their defeat, but he also explained why the match was particularly meaningful for Norwegian football.
Norway had previously encountered Brazil at the World Cup, and the two nations have developed an intriguing footballing history. Remarkably, Brazil have never defeated Norway in a competitive international meeting.
For Haaland, the victory therefore represented much more than an ordinary international result.
He described the match as one of the most special games Norway had ever played and highlighted the way his team controlled the contest against one of the world’s most famous football nations.
Playing Brazil carries additional significance because of the country’s enormous influence on football. Brazilian football is renowned around the world, and the sport occupies a unique place in the country’s culture.
Haaland acknowledged the passion surrounding the Brazilian national team and explained that facing such a prestigious opponent made the occasion even more memorable.
The victory subsequently became an important memory for the Norwegian squad. Haaland described the performance as arguably the best match Norway had played in its history because of the team’s control and overall display.
Despite his pride in the result, the striker maintained his playful tone by once again apologising for Brazil’s defeat.
His comments reflected both respect for Brazil and his enjoyment of one of the biggest victories of his international career.
Haaland Supports Manchester City’s Rebuilding Project
Attention then turned back to Manchester City and the changes taking place within the squad.
The club has undergone a significant period of transition, with several new players arriving as Maresca looks to establish his own tactical approach.
Haaland, one of the most important players in the squad, believes the new arrivals have the experience and quality required to succeed at a club with extremely high expectations.
The Norwegian pointed specifically to Fernandez and Anderson as examples of players who understand the demands of elite football.
Fernandez already has considerable experience of competing in the Premier League and has won major trophies during his career. According to Haaland, the midfielder understands what is required to compete for silverware and was able to adapt quickly after joining the team.
The striker also praised Anderson’s background. Having already spent significant time playing in the Premier League and representing England internationally, Anderson is familiar with the intensity and pressure associated with top-level football.
Haaland believes that experience should help the new players settle into their surroundings.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/erling-haaland-fifa-world-cup-2026-063026-2-914a2dd79e20421b95e066a257d9eda8.jpg)
However, he also stressed that building a successful team will take time. With several new faces arriving, City must create strong relationships within the dressing room and ensure that the newcomers feel comfortable.
Haaland recalled his own arrival at Manchester City and suggested that he wants to offer new players the same welcoming environment that he experienced when he joined the club.
For him, integrating new signings is not simply about their footballing ability. It is also about creating an atmosphere in which they can quickly feel like part of the group.
A New Chapter for Manchester City
Manchester City are entering an important period as they attempt to combine established stars with a new generation of players.
Haaland’s presence remains crucial to that process. His goals continue to make a decisive difference, as demonstrated by his match-winning header against Coventry.
At the same time, the emergence of players such as Fernandez and Anderson could help shape the team’s future.
Haaland acknowledged that only time will reveal whether the rebuilding project reaches its full potential. However, he appears confident that the new recruits possess the necessary experience and mentality to perform at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
The Norwegian’s comments also demonstrated his willingness to take on a leadership role within the evolving squad.
For now, City can take confidence from their perfect start to the Premier League season. Haaland has already made an important contribution, while the club’s new signings are beginning to establish themselves.
Away from the pitch, the striker’s new haircut has also created plenty of conversation. Although Haaland may miss his famous long hair, his performances suggest that the change in appearance has done nothing to reduce his effectiveness in front of goal.
With a historic international victory over Brazil behind him, a new hairstyle and another decisive goal for Manchester City, Haaland appears ready to embrace another chapter of his career.