Following the final whistle at the Etihad Stadium, Erling Haaland understood his mission was accomplished. The Norwegian striker untied his lengthy Viking-inspired hair, removed his shirt, and celebrated triumphantly with Manchester City's devoted supporters.
The Physical Battle Against Gabriel
The 25-year-old forward displayed numerous scars, scratches, and cuts from neck to waist after a grueling 90-minute confrontation with his longtime adversary Gabriel. This intense duel frequently resembled a Wrestlemania match more than a Premier League football encounter.
This was a genuine old-school football battle. The match featured persistent pushing, shoving, and what appeared to be a headbutt between the Manchester City and Arsenal stars. Both athletes fought relentlessly with the Premier League title hanging in the balance.
'This is the Premier League nowadays. It's wrestling here and there,' Haaland remarked post-match.
The confrontation reached its climax when Haaland managed to wrestle free from Gabriel as the ball bounced toward him inside the penalty area. He then calmly slotted home the decisive goal that dramatically reopened the title race.
Unmatched Physical Strength
Gabriel is widely recognized as one of the most physically imposing and powerful defenders not only in the Premier League but globally. Therefore, it requires exceptional strength not merely to resist him but to control him sufficiently to execute a goal-scoring opportunity.
When Haaland removed his number-nine Manchester City jersey just two minutes after scoring—following another shoving contest with the Brazilian defender that resulted in his undershirt being torn—the reason for his physical dominance became evident.
The striker possesses an extraordinarily shredded physique. Haaland represents a unique type of striker in modern football, what some might describe as a complete machine. He combines remarkable speed, lethal finishing ability, and the build of an ox—creating the perfect formula for the world's premier striker.
The 6,000-Calorie Warrior Diet
While the Norwegian international is naturally physically gifted, his condition results from tremendous work, dedication, and what some might consider unconventional methods. The striker maintains distinctive approaches to fueling his body and preserving optimal physical shape throughout the demanding football season.
It requires significantly more than the standard 2,500-calorie daily diet to power the Premier League's most dangerous striker. Simple chicken and rice meals are insufficient for Haaland's needs.
His menu regularly includes cow hearts and livers, as documented in Haaland: The Big Decision—the documentary chronicling his transfer to Manchester City. These are not typical items found on ordinary pub menus.
'You other people don't eat this [heart and liver], but I am concerned with taking care of my body,' Haaland explained in the documentary. 'I think eating quality food that is as local as possible is the most important. Or the local cow eating grass right over there? I eat the heart and the liver.'
These unusual dietary practices form part of the Manchester City star's staggering 6,000-calorie daily intake. When consuming such an extraordinary quantity of calories, not everything can be strictly clean eating.
Haaland maintains his meat-centric habits and occasionally substitutes animal organs for a greasy kebab. In his documentary, the striker openly expressed his deep affection for kebabs, stating simply, 'I love it.'
The Magic Potion: Raw Milk
His shopping list, as revealed on his comprehensive YouTube channel, consistently includes enormous barbecue steaks, raw honey, and substantial quantities of milk. Haaland particularly favors raw milk, which he once described as his 'magic potion' for success.
The Norwegian enjoys pairing his milk with a breakfast of eggs on sourdough bread and coffee sweetened with maple syrup at his six-bedroom mansion in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, which he shares with his girlfriend Isabel Haugsend Johansen.
'Coffee is a super food in my eyes—if you do it right,' Haaland elaborated on his YouTube channel. 'Why? Depends on the quality, when you drink it, and of course, how. I'm into my coffee. It needs a little bit of [raw] milk in—super food as well, I think.'
During the same video, Haaland also demonstrated his appreciation for fish, consuming a lunch of sea bass, asparagus, and egg-fried rice before joining his teammates for training at the Etihad campus.
Advanced Recovery Techniques
To perform at his exceptional level weekly, Haaland must follow an extremely regimented recovery routine daily—not only at Manchester City's training facility in East Manchester but also at his Cheshire home with Johansen.
His preferred recovery methods include:
- Red-light therapy sessions
- Regular sauna use
- Frequent ice baths
- Individual physiotherapy sessions
These practices collectively maximize his physical performance and recovery capacity.
In the inaugural video on his eponymous YouTube channel, launched last October, the Norwegian emphasized the importance of early morning sunlight exposure through walking. Haaland values a peaceful yet productive morning routine, spending quality time with his girlfriend Johansen, whom he met during his youth academy days at Bryne.
His tranquil mornings are typically interrupted by Manchester City physiotherapist Mario Pafundi—whom Haaland has humorously nicknamed 'Italian f***'—before commencing his daily work regimen.
Flexibility and Red-Light Therapy
On YouTube, Pafundi can be observed administering massage and treatment sessions to Haaland, with the City star disclosing the secrets behind his spectacular goals—including his famous strike against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
'I have a natural good flexibility in my groin and hips, which for me is so important to keep because how else do you score these goals?' Haaland explained. 'You need to have good mobility or flexibility to score these crazy goals, so we need to keep this.'
The treatment sessions incorporate red-light therapy, which utilizes infrared rays to penetrate deep into tissues and joints to enhance recovery. Advocates claim that light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can repair damaged tissue, moderate the body's injury response, and reduce inflammation.
'From the sun we get a lot of red light,' Haaland noted. However, as the video was filmed during autumn transitioning to winter with shorter daylight hours, Haaland required a specialized machine to 'get a bit of red light on my back and on my body.'
Ice Baths and Sauna Rituals
Most evenings, Haaland undergoes ice bath and sauna sessions—practices he attempts to maintain 'almost every day and at least five times a week.'
Cold plunges, while uncomfortable, are renowned for excellent recovery benefits following intense physical exertion. Haaland is not the only footballer employing them regularly—Cristiano Ronaldo famously enjoys midnight ice baths.
An ice bath creates a minor metabolic shock to the athlete's system while combating delayed onset muscle soreness. Following his physically demanding battle with Gabriel, Haaland undoubtedly experienced significant soreness. The ice bath was almost certainly utilized within minutes of him leaving the Etihad pitch after Sunday night's victory.
