Haaland not distracted by transfer talk ahead of Liverpool clash
SHOWS: SALZBURG, AUSTRIA (DECEMBER 9, 2019) (RED BULL MEDIA HOUSE - ACCESS ALL)
1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FC SALZBURG STRIKER, ERLING BRAUT HAALAND, SAYING:
"I just focus on my job playing football and to enjoy what I do every day and to go in with a clear mindset, to be in the present, and to enjoy the moment right now. And that's my focus - to focus on Salzburg and me as a player. So, it's not hard at all. I'm enjoying every day to play football, yeah."
2. WHITE FLASH
3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FC SALZBURG MANAGER, JESSE MARSCH, SAYING:
"This is not a new theme, right? There's been a lot of talk, and at one point we had a joke at a press conference that every day there was a new team that was interested. It's natural, you know, Erling had had such a great season and I think it's easy to see, even when he talks here, he's relatively humble and quiet and it's easy to see that he's likeable that he cares about the right thing, you guys don't get to see him in the team every day like I do, but it's one of the things that makes him special is what he says and what he believes and when he comes every day with energy for the group, he cares so much about the team and team success."
STORY: FC Salzburg striker Erling Braut Haaland said he is not distracted by any transfer talk ahead of his side's big clash with Liverpool in the Champions League.
The 19 year-old Norwegian could equal Cristiano Ronaldo's record of scoring in every game of the Champions League group stage if he can get a goal against Liverpool in Salzburg on Tuesday night (December 10).
Haaland, son of former Leeds United player Alf-Inge, has also scored 15 goals in 12 games in the Austrian league this season, and such scintillating form has seen him linked with some of Europe's biggest clubs including Juventus and Manchester United.
Despite the rumours over his future, Haaland said at a Monday news conference that he is solely focused on Salzburg and that he goes into the Champions League match with a 'clear mindset'.
Salzburg manager, Jesse Marsch, said it was understandable why major European clubs would be interested in Haaland and praised his humility and positive contribution towards the team dynamic.
Salzburg play Liverpool in a final-game decider to qualify for the Champions League group stage. The Austrian side thumped Belgium's Genk 4-1 in late November to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
Liverpool defeated Salzburg 4-3 at Anfield earlier in the group stage but following disappointing results against Napoli the reigning Champions League holders face a high-pressure game in Austria.
(Production: Francis Maguire)
