Nottingham Forest are relishing the challenge of stopping Erling Haaland, manager Steve Cooper says, just three days after coming up against Tottenham striker Harry Kane.
Forest have started the season well so far, and played well in defeat to Tottenham on Sunday. Despite arguably being the better side for large periods, two goals from England captain Kane - which took him up to joint-third on the all-time Premier League goalscorer's list - won the game for Spurs.
Next up for Forest is a daunting trip to City, where they will have to try and stop Haaland from adding to his six goals in four league appearances so far.
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And Cooper admits that Haaland will pose a completely different challenge that Kane did, not least because Forest will also have to try and stop City's many other talented forwards.
“I think it will be a different game to the Spurs game,” he said. “We are really looking forward to going to Man City, it is one of the biggest challenges in world club football, there is no doubt about that.
“But that is why we want to be in the Premier League, this is what we want to be part of. We have to go there hopefully with the right plan and supporting the players to go and do the best we can on the night. If we do that and we can give a good account ourselves – we are aiming to be the best version of ourselves – and if we can do that we will see where it takes us.
“That is why we have got to really believe in ourselves. You have to go into these games thinking you can succeed and that is what we will be doing. Harry Kane on Sunday and Haaland tomorrow, two world-class strikers and goalscorers. This is why you want to be in this league, you are coming up against the best players in the world. City don’t just have Haaland, they have a number of players.
“This is what we wanted, this is why we worked as hard as we did last season.”
Cooper also confirmed that Orel Mangala will miss the game through injury, while latest signing Renan Lodi, who has just signed from Atletico Madrid, is not guaranteed to make his debut.
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