Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has shared his expertise on the daunting task of facing Manchester City's Erling Haaland, revealing that only two centre-backs have what it takes to stop the Norwegian goal-scoring machine, according to Metro.
In a recent interview, Rudiger described Haaland as an "absolute beast" due to his exceptional physicality and power. Haaland's impressive goal-scoring record in the Premier League, with 10 goals in just six games, has left defenders scrambling to find a solution.
Rudiger, who has faced Haaland four times, admits that he has struggled to contain the 24-year-old. "When I see his goals, if you put a cross high at the second post, you can't beat him. You cannot beat him. If he wants, you're under him every day," Rudiger said.
However, Rudiger identifies Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Arsenal's William Saliba as the only two defenders capable of matching up against Haaland. "The ones I've seen in the last couple of years is Virgil [Van Dijk], who is the same size as him, that's a good match-up, and I have to say Saliba also did very well."
Rudiger's praise for Van Dijk and Saliba stems from their unique combination of size, strength, and defensive skills. "There's rarely people who can physically match him," Rudiger acknowledged.
Haaland's physical prowess has left many defenders in awe, and Rudiger is no exception. "I don't know what he eats or what he does, but he's... wow, the power he has," Rudiger exclaimed.
As the Premier League continues to witness Haaland's goal-scoring exploits, defenders will be taking note of Rudiger's words of wisdom. Van Dijk and Saliba's ability to contain Haaland will be put to the test in the coming months, providing a fascinating subplot to the season.
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