Hat-trick hero Haaland: This is the craziest thing I´ve ever done in my life

Salzburg sensation Erling Haaland described his stunning Champions League hat-trick as the “craziest thing I’ve ever done in my life”.

Haaland – the son of ex-Manchester City and Leeds United defender Alf Inge – enjoyed a memorable Champions League debut, scoring three first-half goals to inspire a 6-2 rout of Genk on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old became the first teenager to score more than once on his Champions League bow since Wayne Rooney’s hat-trick for Manchester United against Fenerbahce in 2004.

Haaland’s treble also saw him become only the eighth player to score three times on debut in Europe’s elite competition.

 Hat-trick hero! Erling Braut Håland becomes the 8th player to score a treble on his #UCL debut pic.twitter.com/A0ZVqNRuWX

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 17, 2019

“This is the craziest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Haaland – who scored 11 league goals heading into the match – said after the Group E opener at Stadio Salzburg.

“The fans today, oh my god. I had goosebumps as soon as I stepped onto the field and I still have. This feeling in my body I never had before.”

After crushing Belgian visitors Genk, Haaland does not believe it is impossible for Salzburg to follow in the footsteps of Dutch champions Ajax, who reached the semi-finals last season.

“Everything is possible. We all saw Ajax last year, it would be nice to be the new Ajax,” he told UEFA.com. “But we know there are lot of good teams. It’s hard, but everything is possible.”

Salzburg head coach Jesse Marsch led the praise for Haaland – who scored nine goals for Norway’s Under-20 side in a 12-0 demolition of Honduras in May – post-match

Asked to describe Haaland in three words, Marsch replied: “Positive. Energetic. Electric. Or maybe electrifying!”

“Haaland is a great player, but even more for me is that he’s a great young man. He shows up every day, he works hard and takes nothing for granted. He gives to his team-mates every day smiling. We’re really lucky to have him here and if we can keep him fit, he’s only going to get better.”

Salzburg team-mates Maximilian Wober and Zlatko Junuzovic also hailed Haaland.

WHAT A NIGHT!!!! pic.twitter.com/8UuuWW5Xb3

— Erling Haaland (@ErlingHaaland) September 17, 2019

Wober said: “He is phenomenal. With his height, to be so nimble and have such command of the ball. It’s really hard to play against him in training, you just have to foul him. Once again, he proved why he’s definitely going to become one of the best strikers in the world.”

Junuzovic added: “His goalscoring run is incredible. I’m so happy he scored three today. People said: ‘okay he’s scoring for fun in the league, but wait until he comes to the big stage’. Then he goes and scores another hat-trick!”