Mikel Obi, the former captain of the Super Eagles, has advised Erling Haaland, the striker for Manchester City, to elevate his performance and assume responsibility for every penalty that is awarded to the team.
Mikel stated this after the Norwegian star passed the penalty responsibility to Omar Marmoush, only for him to miss his penalty in the final of the FA Cup against Crystal Palace.
Speaking with the Obi One Podcast, the former Chelsea star urged Haaland to emulate Thierry Henry, Frank Lampard, and Didier Drogba.
“I’ve said what I had to say about Haaland. I think he’s Manchester City’s main man with Kevin De Bruyne leaving. He has a nine-year contract, which means they want to build the team around him.
“Pep believes in him, and we know what an amazing footballer is when it comes to goals. He’s the best finisher in world football today, there’s no doubt about it, but can he do it in the big games?
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“Can he do it in the semi-finals, in the finals? He’s not done it so far for City in those big games. The penalty was an opportunity to shut everybody up to score in a big game, but he didn’t take it,” the one-time UEFA Europa League winner said on the Obi One Podcast.
“When people ask me about the best-ever player to have graced the Premier League, I always say Thierry Henry, but you know what they come back with. Has he ever scored in a cup final? He never did with Arsenal, and you can’t argue that.
“So for me, Haaland should shut people up and take responsibility in the big games. Drogba will not pass a penalty to anyone else in a big game, nor will Lampard. That was my only argument: Haaland should’ve stepped up. You’re the man.
“They believe in you, they trust you, and when it’s time to repay them, you pass on the responsibility. I hope he takes it next time,” Mikel Obi concluded.
