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Erling Haaland momentarily stepped out of his role as Manchester City's charming ambassador to reveal his true feelings about Manchester United—or more accurately, his complete indifference toward them.
In an interview with beIN Connect broadcast this weekend, Haaland struggled to recall what City's greatest rivals were even called. "What's their name?" he pointedly asked before eventually coming up with the answer.
When this cheeky moment was brought back up to City's striker, he chuckled: "I had to think about the name."
While United once dominated their crosstown rivals, with legendary Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson famously dismissing the blue side of Manchester as mere "noisy neighbors," the balance of power has shifted dramatically over the past decade. Haaland has only ever experienced United as distant also-rans during his four seasons at City, with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool serving as his club's primary competition.
Before drawing a blank on United's name, Haaland had been discussing City's challenging visit to Anfield on Sunday. The Premier League's deadliest striker was not only bracing for a hostile reception from a Liverpool crowd hungry for confrontation following the official confirmation of City's guilt on over 100 financial regulation breaches, he was actively welcoming it.
"I hope it's like that [hostile]," Haaland stated, "it should be like that when Man City go to Liverpool and Anfield."
Haaland's Man City Prediction for Huge Liverpool Clash
Erling Haaland you are built different. pic.twitter.com/rDmbDDzoOM
Conventional thinking would suggest that the odds are firmly against Manchester City heading into Sunday's fixture at Anfield. It has been widely anticipated that Merseyside supporters will transform their stadium into an unbearable cauldron for a club that, according to an independent panel, systematically bent the rules for nearly a decade to construct a squad that has denied Liverpool more than any other.
Faced with this wave of negativity, City are expected to crumble. Yet, that overlooks some uncomfortable truths.
Anfield carries an imposing reputation on certain European evenings, but the electric atmosphere of Liverpool's home ground has been noticeably subdued for quite some time. On a cold Sunday afternoon, rather than beneath the floodlights of a Champions League showdown, there is only so much intensity that can be generated.
Whatever unfolds in the stands remains secondary to what happens on the pitch. City, it should not be forgotten, sit top of the table with a flawless record under Enzo Maresca. Liverpool, meanwhile, have already dropped points against Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Fulham—three clubs who began the day in the lower half of the Premier League standings.
With all of that considered, Haaland's belief that City supporters are "going to have a good time" at Anfield is not without merit.
"We have to stick together," City's No. 9 told Sky Sports. "We have to stay with each other, and we have to stay positive. No matter what happens in life, we always have to have a smile. So we have to stay positive, look ahead, and try to win football games and try to enjoy the situation and win the game.
"We have to stick together; we have to spread the love to each other. So yeah: stick together, and enjoy the ride and smile."