– Like looking after a pet – NRK Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule

Tape in front of his mouth when he sleeps, purify water by distillation, meditation and a diet with pure ingredients such as heart and liver.

Erling Braut Haaland has taken many steps to optimize his life as a footballer, and now one more thing has come to light in the new Netflix documentary about Manchester City’s historic season which even includes the triple.

– The bonsai tree is exactly where we get our energy from, says Haaland in the documentary that was released on Tuesday.

– We extract the energy from it and transfer it to the body. It is a tree that brings good luck, says Haaland.

It is City team-mate John Stones who says that Haaland was the initiator of getting a bonsai tree set up in the physio room.

The Norwegian explains that “bonsai love humidity”, and that he had to get it in place to improve the humidity in the room.

Many hours every day

Bonsai expert Marius Foss is a little uncertain about how much the tree helps with humidity.

– But it certainly helps the air quality because the plant absorbs carbon dioxide and produces oxygen, Foss says to NRK.

And one can understand that the Norwegian super striker wants good air quality in the physio room.

In the documentary, the Norwegian super forward says that he spends more than four hours with physiotherapist Mario Pafundi every single day.

– Such is my life. I get stamped in practically every match, says Haaland and continued:

– I do not care. I like a bit of pain and I scream every day on Mario’s bench. He gives me a lot of pain.

– You have to score a lot of goals with this toe. Don’t forget it, says Pafundi while he works with a toe on Haaland’s left foot.

Took responsibility

In addition to getting the bonsai tree into Manchester City’s training facility, the janitor is the one who takes the lead in taking care of the Japanese type of tree.

– In a way, I am responsible for the bonsai tree. Give it the water it needs, feed it and give it the right light, says Haaland.

– It’s funny that Haaland is so interested in the tree. It will be a bit like looking after a pet. It requires water and care almost daily for it to thrive, so thumbs up for the commitment, says Foss.

Stones says at the same time that the rest of the wardrobe joined in the bonsai responsibility.

The English centre-back says that it became a thing among the players that you had to water the bonsai tree, and that you got annoyed with yourself even if you didn’t do it when you got to the physio room.

– Calms the body

Foss also says that the advantages of bonsai can be many, including that it is a great way to relax by sitting and working with the tree.

– It gives the body some peace, he says.

The bonsai tree can also be linked to meditation, something Haaland has previously given some credit for his achievements on the pitch.

In an interview with Alan Shearer, the top-scoring player in Premier League history, at The Athletic from the summer of 2022, Haaland spoke warmly about the use of meditation.

– This is something that has helped me a lot. The meditation outside the pitch makes one get rid of negative thoughts, Haaland said then and added:

– You have to be extremely focused. You have to be strong in the head, because it is not easy to be a football player.

Manchester City’s triple success, which can be followed in the Netflix documentary, can still be repeated this season.

In the Premier League, City are three points behind league leaders Liverpool, while they are ready for the quarter- and semi-finals respectively in the Champions League and the FA Cup.