Borussia Dortmund teenager Youssoufa Moukoko: "Erling Haaland is the striker's striker"
Youssoufa Moukoko has hailed the influence of Erling Haaland, whilst outlining his goals for the new season with Borussia Dortmund.
Haaland finished his first full season of Bundesliga football with 27 goals, as well as a tournament-leading 10 in the UEFA Champions League, three during Dortmund's triumphant DFB Cup run and one in the Supercup.
Moukoko, whose second of three Bundesliga goals was assisted by the Norwegian, says his prolific teammate is the complete striker.
“Erling is the striker's striker," the 16-year-old told Fußball News. "He scores goals, he fights, he works. He always wants to win, even in training. This attitude really helps the team."
Watch: Erling Haaland's first full season in the Bundesliga
Haaland had already put four second-half goals past Hertha Berlin on 21 November 2020, when Moukoko took to the field to make history as the Bundesliga's youngest player.
Having blown through the Dortmund youth teams, amassing a barely credible 141 goals and 27 assists in just 88 games, the Cameroon-born forward replaced his coveted role model only a day after turning 16.
Moukoko became the Bundesliga's greenest goalscorer in a defeat to Union Berlin a month later, and was on target again against Freiburg in February.
He also usurped Nigeria's Celestine Babayaro as the Champions League's youngest player, before injury interrupted his top-flight adventure, three goals and 15 appearances in.
Watch: Youssoufa Moukoko makes Bundesliga history
Want more Bundesliga Action?
An ankle problem sustained whilst on international duty with the Germany U21s behind him, Moukoko is determined to play an even bigger role for the Dortmund seniors in 2021/22.
"I want to collect more game minutes than in my first season, score more goals, provide more assists," he said.
“I always want to be there when the team needs me. Of course, it will be difficult. But I have to trust my abilities. I need playing time. And I'm sure I will get more playing time."
Moukoko was a second-half substitute as Dortmund rounded out their pre-season schedule with a 3-0 win over Bologna on 30 July.
Now it's down to business. Die Schwarzgelben begin their DFB Cup defence against Wehen Wiesbaden on 7 August, before hosting Eintracht Frankfurt in their Bundesliga opener (14 August) and Bayern Munich in the Supercup (17 August).
The five-time Bundesliga champions also have Champions League football to look forward to, after finishing third in the league last term.
"I want to win the Bundesliga with Dortmund," said Moukoko, who will be 17 on 20 November.
"If we believe in ourselves, we can also go far in the Champions League."
Related news
Bundesliga 2, Matchday 17 overview
Kaiserslautern host promotion rivals Cologne in the pick of the year-ending fixtures in Germany's second tier...
Who are Elversberg?
All you need to know on the Saarland-based outfit, who are flying high at the top of Bundesliga 2...
Matchday 14 highlights!
Enjoy all the video highlights in one place as the Bundesliga title race was set alight with Bayern's first defeat, Leverkusen cutting the gap and Leipzig drawing level with Frankfurt.