- Haaland accused opposition of being too rough after City won 2-0 at Chelsea
- The striker scored the opening goal of City's first game of the new season
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Manchester City's mercurial frontman, Erling Haaland, has expressed his annoyance with Chelsea's Enzo Fernanzdez's rough-house tactics.
Haaland claimed Chelsea players were overly physical when marking him inside of the 18-yard box, throughout Man City and Chelsea's opening game of the season at Stamford Bridge.
In a post-match interview with the BBC, Haaland even accused Enzo of deliberately stamping on him.
'All the time he [Fernandez] stamps on me, he pushes me and everything,' Halaand told Match of the Day reporters.
'Not only him. I don't know what they want but that's what they do I guess.'
Erling Haaland accused Chelsea players of rough-house tactics during their season opener
Halaand specifically name-checked Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fenandez for 'stamping on him'
City took their first step of 38 towards defending their championship on Sunday – and becoming the only team in Premier League history to win five consecutive league titles – after beating a game Chelsea side 2-0 away from home.
Halaand opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a neat dinked finish over Chelsea's goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, having done well to fend off a robust challenge eight yards from goal by full-back Marc Cucurella.
It was a finish that demonstrated both the Norwegian's power and poise, and was, incredibly, his 91st goal in 100 appearances for City across all competitions.
Man City's No 8 – and former Chelsea player – Mateo Kovacic all but sealed City's victory in the 84th minute with a dazzling strike from the edge of the area that the Blues' goalkeeper could only palm into his net.
Speaking to Sky Sports News immediately after the game, Halaand said he was pleased with his first performance of the new season, despite the pressure Chelsea players applied throughout.
But the 24-year-old also noted that he felt wanted to improve as the season progresses, as he wanted to become a more 'complete' player.
'First games are always hard, for everyone, it doesn't matter if you had a pre-season or not,' Halaand told reporters. 'I had a long pre-season but I don't feel perfect, I'm not in the perfect state. It's good to get that win.
'I knew exactly what to do, I think it was a really good goal,' Haaland continued. 'I remember last year he made a really good save against me, it had been irritating me for a long time, so yeah, it was a perfect goal.
Halaand told BBC's Match of the Day that Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez 'stamped on him and pushed him' during their Premier League season opener on Sunday
Chelsea's physicality didn't stop Halaand from demonstrating his skill as he opened scoring under pressure in the six-yard box
'The best players are the best on the easiest things. Touching it with your right and passing with your left. That's the important thing. Pep [Guardiola] says this to me all the time.
'I want to get more involved, that's what Pep wants. But in games like this, do I need to be that more involved? That's the million-dollar question. I want to get more assists and become a better player.'
Man City will look to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season next Saturday when they host Premier League new boys Ipswich in a 3pm kick-off at the Etihad.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of losing his first game as manager of the Premier League side when the Blues travel to Molineux on Sunday to take on Wolves at 2pm kick-off.
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