Sébastien Haller is looking forward to Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Benfica. The 27-year-old striker of Ajax is having an unparalleled debut season on the billion-dollar ball, which led him to eleven goals in seven games. Haller thought he had the top scorers title firmly in his hands, but Robert Lewandowski quickly changed that one night. A small damper, the French-Ivorian striker admits at the press conference.
Lewandowski scored nine hits until last week and made a flawless hat trick during the ear washing of Red Bull Salzburg (7-1). The top striker of Bayern Munich has passed the goal getter of Ajax. “I wasn’t home myself, so I didn’t hear about it until a little later,” Haller says. “It kind of ruined my evening, to be honest,” he continues with a small smile. “If you are the top scorer in this league and you know that Lewandowski is behind you, he can overtake you. You know that, he makes three in one game and that can happen in this tournament.”
‘They like to attack a lot’ #UCL #ajaben pic.twitter.com/8IyRYQoCA8
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Haller will do everything he can to bring Lewandowski back in the return against Benfica. “It’s what you try as a striker,” said the former FC Utrecht attacker. “Of course I hope I can score again. Everyone knows that momentum and confidence is very important for a striker and I can’t complain about how things are going so far. I have scored every game in the Champions League.”
“Portuguese football is known for attacking football, in that respect they are a bit like us. I think it could be on par with two big clubs in their own country,” said Haller, who enjoys matches in the billion-dollar ball. “Everyone knows that the Champions League is just incredible, then you can bring something extra. It’s something special, you want to be successful in that. When friends come to watch, they all say it’s special. Everyone knows what can happen here and it gives you extra energy when the fans rage.”