Erling Haaland meets Neil Warnock and admits that he agrees with ‘Long Ball Tactics

Erling Haaland had a pep talk from former Crystal Palace -Baas Neil Warnock to prepare it for the FA Cup final.

The experienced boss was invited Manchester CityEtihad Chief Pep Guardiola’s training field earlier this month and spent time chatting with the players.

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As a lifelong fan of English footballHaaland revealed that he was delighted to meet the ‘old school’ 76-year-old and it turned out that they had enough in common.

The Norwegian also said Warning How he expects City to find the energy to end their disappointing season in a high tone – just as they have always done.

Reminding the meeting with Warnock, Spits Trap Said: “He is really a funny guy, a good guy. I have watched a lot of English football all my life, so I know he is a legend of the game.

“I didn’t know he would come, so it was a surprise, but I had a good conversation with him.

“He has an old school road about him and I am also a bit old school because of my father. We have had some good discussions.”

Asked what they had talked about, Haaland told the BBC: “Sometimes you have to kick and run a little.

“That was his tactics in his days and I agree – a little kick and run.

“We both love football, so we talked about that, the period in which we have been, but how we now have a good momentum.

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“In other seasons something happened to give us extra energy somewhere and this is exactly the moment it should happen.”

Haaland says he is fit and is handling after six weeks on the sidelines recovering from an ankle injury picked up in the quarter -finals victory on Bournemouth.

City has reached the final in each of his three seasons in the club and he says that winning would be special, because May 17 is an important date in his home country.

It is always a holiday in Norway when they celebrate their constitution day with parades, traditional clothing and music.

He said: “It would mean a lot to me on a big day in Norway. So I will do everything to make it possible and I will do everything to help the team achieve this.

“It was terrible to be injured. But what can you do? You have to recover as quickly as you can and come back as fit as possible as you can.

“Now I am back with a lot of energy. I feel good and move well and I am ready.”

Guardiola has said that winning the Fa -Cup And securing a place in the Champions League of next season would not save the season.

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Haaland emphasized, however: “It would help for me. It is important to win trophies. That is what I want. That’s why I am here.

“But again, the standards that these guys have set, maybe this means nothing for them because they have the standard so high.

“The past was incredible for me personally in this club and also before I came here in the club, what Pep did.

“It is ridiculous if you dig a little to see how well he did it.

“But yes, I am here to keep winning trophies, what we are trying to do in the FA Cup now.”

Haaland has been to Wembley as a city fan – and for the past two years as a player in the final – and he can’t wait to experience it again.

He added: “I remember that my father told me how appreciated the FA Cup is in this country and I understood that when I won it.

“It is really impressive to see how often Fut Has City brought to Wembley, it’s hard to do. Being here for the third time in a row is great and hopefully we can win again.

“I watched many finals, but I was in Wembley as a supporter of City, and I won it too.

“It is special to go to Wembley. You always know it is a big game when you play there.”