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Erling Haaland has confessed that his long-time girlfriend, Isabel Haugseng Johansen, often finds it difficult to deal with the physical consequences of his intense Premier League encounters. The Manchester City star was involved in a bruising contest with Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes during Sunday’s crucial 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium. Their individual duels have developed into one of the Premier League’s most riveting rivalries in recent seasons.

Battle scars at the Etihad

In City’s hard-earned victory over Mikel Arteta’s men, Haaland and Gabriel were engaged in constant physical battles throughout the match, leading to torn shirts and rising tempers over the 90 minutes. At one stage, Haaland had to replace his jersey after it was ripped during a second-half tussle with the Brazilian defender. Gabriel was also at the heart of a tense moment when he appeared to attempt a headbutt on the Norwegian striker — an incident that earned him only a yellow card rather than a sending-off.

Isabel Haugseng Johansen’s reaction

Haaland admitted that the aftermath of such physical clashes sometimes causes awkward moments at home. The forward said that the marks and scratches left behind by defenders like Gabriel can be tricky to justify to his partner. Reflecting on the physical intensity of the league, Haaland said, “I think my shirt got pulled a bit! I didn’t get the foul, but this is the Premier League today. It’s wrestling here and there, lots of duels, lots of scratches. Sometimes my missus isn’t too happy about it — it looks a bit wrong! But that’s the reality.”

A much-needed international break

Despite the “wrestling” nature of Premier League fixtures, Haaland appears refreshed as the title race reaches its decisive phase. The former Borussia Dortmund forward praised the Norwegian national team for managing his game time during the recent international break, which allowed him to recuperate after a demanding club schedule.

“I feel good. Honestly, it’s been a few good weeks since the international break,” Haaland continued. “You can see how I feel — just look at our joy after the game. The break with the national team really helped. I’m thankful they told me to ‘relax’ after playing around 50 games this season.”

Focused on the final push

With the World Cup and the decisive stages of the domestic season approaching, Haaland believes that the rest period has been crucial for his long-term fitness. The Manchester City striker is now determined to maintain his goal-scoring form as the club pursues more trophies in what he calls the most significant stretch of his career.

Explaining the importance of his recovery, he said, “It’s about getting ready for the two most important months of your career, especially with the World Cup ahead. I’m grateful they allowed me to rest and fix my body a bit — now it’s time to come back and attack.”