Haaland urges Man City to 'step up' after nervy 3-2 Champions League win over Leipzig

Erling Haaland delivered the decisive blow as Manchester City beat RB Leipzig 3-2 in their Champions League league-phase fixture on Wednesday, but the Norwegian was quick to demand higher standards from his side despite the victory moving them into the top eight of the table.

City twice surrendered their lead at the Red Bull Arena, with Gianluigi Donnarumma caught out for Leipzig’s opener, before Haaland’s late intervention sealed all three points. The win was hard-fought, and the striker made clear he expects more from Enzo Maresca’s team going forward.

“I think we need to step up a bit — when we were 1-0 up I think we needed to go at it, go for the second goal and then the third,” Haaland said. “That’s what we have to do. We have to work on that.”

Asked specifically where improvements were needed, Haaland pointed to both ends of the pitch. “Keeping the ball, when to keep it when to go, working together offensively and defensively,” he said. “You can always be better and there’s always a new chance. A new game in three days so that’s lovely.”

One bright spot for City was the performance of summer signing Elliot Anderson, who provided the assist for Haaland’s winner. The midfielder, who joined from Nottingham Forest, has made an immediate impression at the Etihad, and Haaland was full of praise for his new teammate.

“He has been amazing — he has had an amazing start to his City career and that is what you expect,” said Haaland. “You have to come straight in and perform. It is not easy to come in, you need to adapt to new players and a new coach, so he has been impressive. Respect.”

Anderson’s connection to his former club adds an extra subplot to City’s next fixture, a Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.