Leicester City manager and former Premier League striking legend Ruud van Nistelrooy has come to the defense of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, labeling the Norwegian forward “the best of the best” amid scrutiny over his form during the 2024-25 season. The comments, made in a press conference on March 31, 2025, highlight Van Nistelrooy’s admiration for Haaland’s goal-scoring prowess and resilience, even as some critics have suggested the 24-year-old has struggled to replicate the heights of his previous campaigns.
Haaland, who has netted an impressive 30 goals across all competitions this season in 40 appearances, faced questions about a perceived dip in performance compared to his record-breaking 2022-23 season, where he scored 52 goals, and last year’s tally of 38 in 45 games. When asked whether Haaland’s current campaign represented a challenge for a world-class striker to maintain confidence, Van Nistelrooy dismissed the notion with a mix of incredulity and praise.
“How many goals did he score so far this season? Yesterday he scored his 30th. Come on,” Van Nistelrooy said, referencing Haaland’s latest strike in a Manchester City match on March 30. “This is what I mean—30 goals, and people say he’s having a bad one? He’s the best striker in the league. He’s proven it. He’s won everything possible. He’s a class act.”
The Dutchman, who himself scored 150 goals in 219 appearances for Manchester United between 2001 and 2006, went further, suggesting Haaland’s current output is just a glimpse of his potential. “Imagine when he starts playing well… he might hit 60 or 70,” Van Nistelrooy quipped, drawing laughter from reporters. “He’s a pillar in City’s current team and in their future. You know when you have a guy like him in the building, you have a guarantee for 30 goals—and apparently that’s not enough for some people.”
Haaland’s season has not been without its highlights. In February, he matched a unique Premier League record previously set by Van Nistelrooy and Tottenham’s Harry Kane, scoring 20 goals in each of his first three seasons in the English top flight—a feat that underscores his consistency. His latest goal against Tottenham Hotspur on February 26 further cemented his place in the league’s history books, with 83 goals in just 92 Premier League matches since joining Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.
Van Nistelrooy, now managing Leicester City after a successful stint at PSV Eindhoven, drew parallels between his own career and Haaland’s, noting the Norwegian’s “A mindset” and “A quality” as traits that will ensure his dominance for years to come. “He’s the best of the best,” Van Nistelrooy reiterated. “He has everything—pace, movement, finishing. He’s a guarantee, and he’ll continue with that for many more years.”