“It’s not normal” – Brentford’s Igor Thiago details Erling Haaland obsession

Brentford striker Igor Thiago has revealed he keeps regularly watching Manchester City’s Erling Haaland’s movements as he tries to improve his own game.

There is a lot of logic behind that choice of homework of course. Igor Thiago finished last season with 22 Premier League goals, second only to the Manchester City striker with 27.

The Brazilian ended the campaign with 25 goals in all competitions and earned a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad.

He’s now back leading the line for Brentford after staying at the club beyond the summer transfer window.

Speaking exclusively to ESPN Brazil, Igor Thiago was asked about the forwards he expects to compete with for goals in the Premier League this season.

“Haaland, João Pedro, and Isak as well when he comes back,” he said.

“I think they’re strikers whose style of play I like, what they deliver. I think by watching them play, I learn as well. And I have been learning. They’re the strikers who inspire me and who I also look up to.”

Studying Haaland

It is Haaland, though, who appears to receive particularly close attention from the Brentford man. And it’s not the first time he mentions the Norwegian as a case of study.

The Manchester City striker has set an obvious benchmark for Premier League centre-forwards and Igor Thiago admits he watches videos to pick up details he can incorporate into his own game.

“I watch quite a lot because each of them, with their own characteristics, has things I can use in my day-to-day game.”

“I used to watch Haaland to see the movements he made on the pitch because it’s not normal for a guy to score so many goals.”

“It’s no coincidence that a guy scores as many goals as he does. So I kept watching to understand the movements he made, so I could do the same.”

Considering Igor Thiago then scored 22 league goals himself last season, some of that studying appears to have served him pretty well.

“His timing is perfect”

The Brentford striker also explained what separates Haaland from other centre-forwards. For him, the Norwegian’s biggest quality isn’t simply his finishing. It’s knowing exactly when and where to move before the opportunity arrives.

“His timing is perfect. With runs in behind, he understands very well when to attack the space, when not to, and when to run towards the near post. He understands that moment very well, he understands that timing very well.”

“Or when to run in behind, when to go towards the far post. So I think those are the things that make the difference for a striker and keep him one step ahead of everyone else.”

It is an interesting insight into how Igor Thiago has approached his own development at Brentford. His physical qualities and finishing were obvious throughout last season, but 22 Premier League goals don’t arrive through those attributes alone.

Haaland remains the man to catch after beating him to the Golden Boot last season. Igor Thiago clearly isn’t pretending otherwise.

Instead, the Brentford striker is studying exactly how the Manchester City star does it – and trying to take a few of those tricks into his own game.