Akanji thrilled with Haaland contract news

Manuel Akanji has hailed Erling Haaland as the best striker in the world as he revealed his delight at the star striker’s new contract until 2034.

Haaland penned a 10-year deal this week much to the delight of City supporters around the globe.

But the news was also heralded inside the dressing room with teammate Akanji buzzing to have the Norwegian pledge his long-term future to the Club.

“I’m really happy he’s staying here for a long time,” said our Swiss defender.

“I’m definitely happy he’s in my team! Especially with his pace and physicality that he has – it’s really hard to defend.

“He’s been a really big help for us – he’s been scoring lots of goals and holds up the ball to create opportunities.

“He’s the best striker in the world and he’s fully deserved this contract.

“It’s also proven that what he’s done, the club are really confident about his future, and I think he fully deserves it.”

Next up for Akanji and Haaland is an away clash with Ipswich Town.

The Tractor Boys, one of the newly promoted sides this term, are currently in the bottom three but only on goal difference.

Kieran McKenna’s team will be eager for the scalp of the champions to add to that of Chelsea who they defeated at Portman Road just before the turn of the New Year.

Akanji is very aware of the task ahead, which includes keeping former City starlet forward Liam Delap quiet.

“I’ve seen some games of him and he’s physical and fast,” Akanji said of Delap.

“He has a really good shot and doesn’t hesitate.

“He’s scored plenty of goals already and is really good at holding up the ball.

“We definitely have to be ready for that. I’m physically strong as well so I don’t mind going up against a player that is also physically strong.

“Every game in the Premier League is hard and it won’t be easy.

“They will give everything and we have to be ready right from the start and show a really good performance.”

The Blues head into this latest assignment on the back of three wins and a draw following a previous tough spell of form and results, allied to a crippling injury list.

Akanji wants Pep Guardiola’s men to continue with a laser focused approach as we look to climb the Premier League table.

“We’ve just got to focus on winning the next few matches,” he continued.

“There’s a lot of things that are possible – I don’t want to talk about the title right now because we are lots of points behind.

“We never know what’s going to happen – we’ve just got to focus on the next match, try to win it, show good performances and get everyone healthy.

“We know each other well and everyone tries to give their best on the pitch but it’s not always easy when things are changing because of injuries.

“The main thing now is to get everyone back and fight together for what we always fight for at the end of every season.

“It’s all on us – we have to show good performances, and it starts with the next game. We’ve got some things we need to be better at – you can always improve in football, but I think we’re on the right track.”

As well as Premier League improvement, Akanji is also eager for Champions League progression this season.

The Blues lie in 22nd spot in the new UCL League Format which was introduced for the 2024/25 campaign.

The top eight sides qualify automatically for the Round of 16, while the teams finishing in 9th to 24th place will compete in a two-legged knock-out phase play-off to secure their path to the next stage.

Meanwhile, teams that finish 25th or lower will be eliminated, with no access to the UEFA Europa League.

Akanji is eyeing two wins – and six points – from matches away at PSG and home to Club Brugge as City bid to continue our adventure in the competition we won in 2023.

“It’s really important,” he said of UCL football.

“We want to be alongside the best teams in Europe and we’ve got to prove that every year.

“We’ve got two more games left [in the League Phase] and we want to win them both. We want to go as far as possible.”