Haaland Praises Bouaddi as a 'Gem' After Man City's Champions League Win

Erling Haaland walked off the Dragão pitch with another Champions League win in his pocket and a wry smile on his face. The smile wasn’t just for the scoreline.

“It was a difficult fight, man against man,” he told Amazon Prime, still buzzing from a night where Manchester City had to grind rather than glide. “They are a top team, honestly they are impressive. They play amazing football so well done to them, but with all the pressure [on us] we had to deliver on the biggest stage. That’s what we did today.”

City did not stroll through this one. They had to earn it.

Haaland felt they set the tone early.

“I think honestly we controlled the first half,” he said. “A bit uncomfortable when they came a bit high, but we created a lot of chances. I could of easily of had a lot more goals, but second half we scored and they pushed us for a good 25 minutes, but again we managed to hold through and then finish the game.”

Porto’s spell after the break tested City’s nerve. The visitors bent, but did not break, and when the chance came to kill it, they did. That, Haaland insisted, is exactly what this competition demands.

“I think these are the games that we have to win, and we have had a great start to the season. In the Champions League you have to win games because if not you suddenly get all the pressure and then you never know what’s going to happen.”

Bouaddi’s big step

On a night of established stars, an 18-year-old forced his way into the conversation. Bouaddi, making his debut, caught Haaland’s eye long before kick-off.

“I think he played a very good game,” the striker said. “Last couple of weeks in training, I told the chairman that he has been amazing, so I think we have a gem here.”

That word lingered. Gem. City have spent heavily to dominate Europe’s elite, but this sounded like a striker convinced there is something special emerging from within their own ranks.

Haaland, though, couldn’t resist a striker’s complaint.

“But to be honest, I think he should of played me through in the second half when I was all alone. I was a bit angry, so I will tell him right now, he played a good game, except that pass.”

The standards are ruthless. The praise is real. That’s life inside this dressing room.

The weight of the shirt

Haaland didn’t try to dress it up. Wearing this badge comes with a non‑negotiable demand.

“We have to demand a lot from each other, and we have to win games,” he said. “At Man City you have to win games and you have to win trophies.”

No caveats. No excuses. City leave Porto with three points, a debutant marked out as a “gem”, and their leading striker reminding everyone that at this club, nights like this are not celebrated as exceptions – they are expected as the rule.