After a somewhat disappointing start in England in a Community Shield loss to Liverpool, the 22-year-old proved the difference-maker as Manchester City got their title defense off to a winning start.
Although Pep Guardiola’s side didn’t start brilliantly, Haaland won first and then scored a penalty to open the score.
In the second half Kevin De Bruyne found his new teammate with a pinpoint pass just as West Ham were growing into the game. Haaland, perhaps unsurprisingly, killed any chance of that with another cool finish.
But despite his desire to keep scoring goals, the £51million signing had a rather vague view of the opportunity he missed for his hat-trick.
“It was a good start, there’s not much to say,” Haaland told Sky Sports.
“Good start.
“I could have had a hat-trick… A bit of shit, but it is what it is… oh sorry.
“Besides, it’s now almost 30 minutes since I scored the last goal, so I have to keep going.”