Haaland too good or too bad defender?

Haaland reaches 100 goals in the Premier League.

However, that feat raises a controversial question. Is Haaland too superior, or does the tournament environment pave the way for him to break records more easily than previous generations?

Is Haaland too strong, or has the Premier League changed?

Haaland reached the milestone of 100 Premier League goals in typical style. He was cool, powerful and almost unstoppable. His 17th-minute strike against Fulham not only opened the scoring, but also took Haaland past Alan Shearer, who needed 124 games to do the same in the 1990s.

A goal like any other Haaland goal: given the chance, he punished. But behind that moment was a reality that startled fans and experts alike. 111 matches for 100 goals. Henry lost 141 matches, Aguero lost 147 matches, Salah lost 162 matches. A whole generation of legendary strikers was left behind because Haaland moved too fast.

The problem is when one person breaks every record so easily, the story is no longer just about applause.

Haaland brother 1

Haaland scored in Man City's 5-4 win over Fulham in the early morning of December 3.

Since arriving at Manchester City in July 2022, Haaland has been a whirlwind. 36 goals in the 2022/23 season, breaking the record for most goals scored in a 38-game season. In 2025, he maintained his form and reached 100 goals before the age of 26.

The Premier League has always claimed to be the most difficult and fiercest tournament. But Haaland's achievements have made many people wonder if that "difficulty" has changed?

In the past, strikers in the Premier League had to face famous and combative defenders such as Nemanja Vidic, John Terry, Sol Campbell, Jaap Stam... They did not hesitate to collide, ready to sacrifice themselves to prevent each dribble.

Football has changed. Defenders play cleaner, preferring to cover shots rather than rush in. Teams keep a high line, pressing all over the pitch, unintentionally creating more space behind them. And when that space appears, Haaland, with his speed and strength, needs just two runs to turn any situation into a goal.

Haaland is good, no one can deny that. But the current Premier League is also easier for strikers like him.

The record has lost its sacredness, but Haaland still cannot be underestimated.

What’s causing the debate is the ease with which records are being broken. At his current rate of scoring, Haaland could hit 150 or 200 goals in just a few seasons. If that happens, people will look back and question whether Shearer’s decades-long record is still valid.

Thierry Henry, Sergio Aguero, Mohamed Salah, icons of modern football, are now left behind not because they are bad, but because the football environment has changed. VAR protects strikers more, the light contact rule makes it easier to call penalties, and the defense focuses on control instead of one-on-one combat.

When records are broken too quickly, they naturally lose their inherent harshness.

Haaland brother 2

Haaland is currently Man City's heavy artillery.

But no matter how controversial, there is no denying that Haaland is a special phenomenon. His 100th goal against Fulham, scored just minutes after hitting the post, showed his killer instinct and fearsome coolness. This season, he has 15 goals, leading the list of top scorers and shows no signs of slowing down.

What matters to Man City is that each Haaland goal now not only has record value, but also puts them within touching distance of Arsenal in the title race. A win in London would see Man City close the gap to two points, and when Haaland gets into scoring mode, that opportunity is always there.

Haaland hasn’t just rewritten Premier League history. He’s changed the way records, generations of strikers, and the quality of the league’s defenses are measured. Modern football is softer, less physical, and more striker-centric. But that’s exactly what makes Haaland the perfect product of this era.

The record may be controversial. His legacy is not.

Source: https://znews.vn/haaland-qua-gioi-hay-hau-ve-qua-kem-post1608045.html