Kevin De Bruyne claims his Wolves celebration was not done to copy Erling Haaland, his future Manchester City teammate.
The Belgian had his most productive night in the Premier League, scoring four goals and receiving the match ball as City defeated Wolves 5-1 to keep their title hopes alive. De Bruyne scored his first goal after just seven minutes and finished his hat-trick before the half-hour mark.
His third, a rasping left-footed shot from outside the area, sailed past Jose Sa, who reeled backward before making a never-before-seen meditation sign. It’s a position employed frequently by Haaland, who consistently scores in the Bundesliga.
When asked about his celebration, De Bruyne said: “They asked if it was [Erling] Haaland after I did a few of interviews. I just did it because I got three points! That never occurs.” This season, the 30-year-old has scored 19 goals in all competitions, making it his highest goalscoring season to date.
Haaland previously discussed his celebration with Esporte Interativo, saying: “Meditation is something I truly appreciate. It relaxes me and makes me feel peaceful. This is why when I score, I occasionally celebrate like way.” City confirmed the Norwegian’s transfer last week, and he will join the Etihad this summer.
Following his performance against Wolves, De Bruyne told Sky Sports: “I’m not sure, you just take your chances and if you miss, you miss. It makes no difference; you make mistakes in the game and try again. That’s fine with me.” He went on to say on the title race: “The standards we both set are a touch insane, but you can only respect them. We understand how difficult it is, and both sides respect each other, but all we can do is play hard.”
