Friday, July 23, 2021 at 2:57 pm• Rian Rosendaal

Jürgen Kohler does not go along with the euphoria surrounding Erling Braut Haaland. The former center back of Borussia Dortmund, who made 250 appearances for the club and conquered the Champions League in 1997, believes that the Norwegian top scorer still needs to take some steps towards the absolute top. Kohler also believes that Kylian Mbappe has more potential than Haaland.

“It’s not a world-class player yet,” Kohler said about Haaland in an interview with . on Friday Ruhr Nachrichten. “He is a top player who has all the qualities to reach that level in the future. But he has to show that first.” According to the former stopper, the Dortmund striker should not rely on 34-year-old Lionel Messi and 36-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who Kohler no longer considers world-class. “They’re too old now.”

Kohler thinks Mbappe is the best example for Haaland. “He has the greatest potential and I see more as a world-class player. His speed is not his only weapon. He gives short passes and his ball control never lets him down. Mbappe never just does anything on the field, there is always a thought behind” The former Champions League winner thinks that in terms of touch and dribbling, Haaland still has a lot to improve to compare with Mbappe.

“And his headlines could be a lot better too,” Kohler adds. “And Haaland also has to improve when he is played with his back to the goal, the ball must not always jump off his foot.” Despite the points for improvement, Kohler is quite impressed with the development that the striker from Norway has gone through. “At 21 he has come a long way, which is really extraordinary. I am convinced that he will find a way that makes him unstoppable as a striker. And with experience Haaland will become a world class player.”