‘He can’t do it’ – Thierry Henry adamant Erling Haaland is not as good as Harry Kane in one specific area

Thierry Henry believes Erling Haaland wouldn’t be able to drop deep and get the ball in the same way Harry Kane does.

Both strikers have been on fire already, with the former netting two hattricks in the Premier League for Manchester City, and England’s captain netting his own record-breaking treble in the Champions League with Bayern Munich.

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But whilst Kane found the net in his first European clash this season, Haaland wasn’t so profitable, failing to score in a game for the first time this campaign in his bid to score his 100th City goal.

Indeed, City’s blank in their 0-0 draw against Inter Milan on Wednesday is only the second time in 42 Champions League matches under Pep Guardiola that they’ve failed to score.

CBS Sport’s panel discussed Haaland’s quiet evening, and when ex-Man City defender Micah Richards brought up the Norwegian stating he sometimes felt frustrated by his role of staying up top, Henry asked whether he would actually be able to drop deeper.

“Can he drop though, and get the ball?” the ex-Arsenal striker asked.

Richards replied: “It’s not his game.”

“I know it’s not,” Henry said. “But do you think he can drop, get the ball, and make things happen? Do you?”

“Not as well as we’d like to see him, no, but I do believe his all round game this season has improved from last season,” Richards answered.

Henry agreed with Richards’ remark on Haaland improving, but still stood by his point – and he brought up the difference between him and Kane in the process.

Asked by presenter Kate Scott if he thought Haaland could drop deep, Henry said: “I don’t think he can, no.

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“Go in the middle and play like Kane can do? Right now? No.

“I think he can improve. Right now, he can’t do that.”

Despite leading the line for England and Bayern Munich, former Tottenham striker Kane was frequently seen dropping deep at Euro 2024 as he looked to create chances.

Haaland, meanwhile, had just 14 touches in Wednesday’s clash, the fewest of any player to start the game on either side.

“Yeah but he doesn’t need to do [drop deep], though,” Richards said, referring to City’s style of play.

“Of course he doesn’t need [to],” Henry said back. “City are always on the ball, you don’t often need to do that.

“I was just making a point that right now, I don’t think he can do that.

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“He will eventually, he will one day do that. But right now, he can not.”

Differences in playing style aside, both strikers had incredible seasons last term, winning their league’s respective golden boots.

And if their start to this campaign is anything to go off, they’ll be in the hunt to claim that honour again.