Haaland Praises ‘Gem’ Bouaddi After Man City’s Porto Win

Manchester City walked out of Porto with a 2-0 victory and something more valuable than three Champions League points – the sense that a new talent has arrived.

Erling Haaland, bruised and beaming after what he called “a difficult fight, man against man”, could not hide his admiration for 18-year-old debutant Bouaddi, even as he replayed the chances he left behind.

Porto pushed, City bent, but they did not break. Under heavy scrutiny on one of Europe’s toughest stages, Pep Guardiola’s side delivered the kind of controlled, ruthless away performance that defines serious contenders.

“We had to deliver on the biggest stage,” Haaland told Amazon Prime. “That’s what we did today.”

City’s centre-forward felt his side had the measure of the contest from the outset. “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 easily have had a lot more goals.”

The game tightened after the interval. Porto raised the tempo, the crowd sensed a shift, and City had to dig in.

“Second half we scored and they pushed us for a good 25 minutes,” Haaland admitted. “But again we managed to hold through and then finish the game.”

Those are the nights that shape a campaign. Slip once in the group and the pressure multiplies; Haaland knows the margins.

“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,” he said. “I think these are the games that we have to win, and we have had a great start to the season.”

Bouaddi’s big step

Amid the grind and the goals, Bouaddi’s debut cut through. The teenager did not just survive; he impressed one of the most demanding forwards in world football.

“I think he played a very good game,” Haaland 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 hung in the air: gem. City have spent years scouring the globe for exactly this kind of talent. To hear their star striker speak that way about an 18-year-old on his first big night says plenty about how the youngster has trained – and how he handled the occasion.

Haaland, though, could not resist a striker’s complaint. “To be honest, I think he should have played me through in the second half when I was all alone,” he laughed. “I was a bit angry, so I will tell him right now, he played a good game, except that pass.”

It was a glimpse into City’s standards. Praise comes quickly, but so do demands.

Life under City pressure

Haaland’s final words underlined the reality of playing in sky blue. There is no soft landing, not for Bouaddi, not for anyone.

“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.”

Porto away, a debutant shining, points secured, standards reinforced. If this is how Bouaddi handles his first step, what might he look like when the knockout rounds arrive?