Erling Haaland reveals bizarre wood-chopping hobby helps him relax as Man City star admits burnout fears

ERLING HAALAND is ready to set the Champions League on fire again. And the Manchester City goal machine, 26, has revealed he loves nothing more than chopping logs during his time off. Erling Haaland is preparing to face Porto in the Champions League Credit: Getty The Manchester City striker loves chopping wood when he is away from the pitch Credit: YouTube Haaland reckons swinging his axe helps to clear his mind and relax, as well as keeping him red-hot several times over. The Norwegian has been doing it for years — so just like scoring goals, then. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! It was seven years ago this month the striker first announced himself on European club football’s biggest stage. On his Champions League debut, he bagged a first-half hat-trick for RB Salzburg against Genk and has barely stopped since. READ MORE ON ERLING HAALAND He has 57 goals in 58 appearances in the competition and sits joint-ninth with Bayern Munich legend Thomas Muller in the all-time top-scorers list. Haaland is just two behind Andriy Shevchenko, with Ruud van Nistelrooy a further goal ahead. Lionel Messi is the fastest player to reach 60 Champions League goals. But he needed 80 matches to reach that tally — meaning the Etihad idol has 21 games to find just three more goals. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS So it is not just the wood at his home that goes up in flames, he is setting fire to the record books, too. On his YouTube channel, Haaland spoke about how he likes to pass his free time in an outbuilding in the grounds of his Cheshire mansion. He told fans: “This is where the magic happens. This is where I chop the wood and burn it. “It gives me peace in my mind, that’s what I like about it. Chop wood, burn it and relax, alone. “It’s really good for me, it clears my mind. So this is what I’m doing when I’m home. “Looking at fire is pure peace. It’s one of my favourite things to look at. Nature is life. “People will think I’m joking but this is actually what I’m doing. I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember. “We used to do it in my cabin back in Norway. They do it in the mountains there — cozy moments, burn some wood. Haaland has notched 57 goals in 58 Champions League appearances Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The Norwegian tries to take his mind off challenging for silverware Credit: YouTube “I like to do it outside, inside but I prefer this camping vibe because it’s peaceful and calm. That’s why I love it.” And he revealed he got into chopping wood thanks to some words of wisdom from his dad, former Leeds and City star Alfie — who, ironically, also played for Nottingham Forest. Haaland said: “My father taught me this — that firewood makes you hot several times. “First you need to chop the tree down, which makes you hot. “Then you need to chop it up, makes you hot. Put them to dry, makes you hot. “Go and get it and bring it inside, makes you hot. And then you burn it. Six times you’re getting hot, from that one tree.” Spending time in his cabin is helping Haaland to process a “crazy” summer for him with Norway at the World Cup. He scored seven times at his first international tournament and even helped to send Brazil home before his nation bowed out with a 2-1 extra-time defeat by England in the quarter-finals. Haaland has burnout fears Credit: Getty The goal machine shone at the World Cup Credit: Getty Pictures of Haaland and his team-mates doing their Viking ‘rowing’ celebration after victories became enduring images of the tournament. But the target man admits fearing his feats Stateside could lead to burnout at City. Haaland was allowed to miss City’s pre-season Far East tour by new boss Enzo Maresca, so only returned to training in the middle of last month. And although he has already bagged three goals in three games this season to help City to a perfect record so far, he is concerned ahead of what promises to be another gruelling campaign. Ahead of their Champions League opener in Porto, Haaland said: “Sometimes we need a break as well. I’ve never been in this situation before — I never played a World Cup so I don’t know how it is. “Doing so well at the World Cup, the row. Just everything, how it worked together, it’s just crazy. “It feels like we won the World Cup, in some way. The whole world was talking about the row, on holidays. Even now, meeting people in the street. “When I came back it was like, ‘Wow, it’s good to be home’, but so much had happened and I hadn’t digested it. Haaland has made a strong start to the season Credit: Getty Enzo Maresca has vowed to rest tiring stars Credit: Getty “I normally have a bit of pre-season but this time, just nothing. “The physical side will come but you need to be sharp mentally as well and that’s not easy. “We need to have that eager feeling to go back but we don’t because there is no time to properly stay away from football because there are so many games. “I’m not complaining because it’s still a positive thing that you get to play football throughout the whole year and live off it.” Italian Maresca, 46, plans to keep a close eye on City’s World Cup stars. He said: “It’s not easy for Erling or most of the players that play for club and the international team. “They start to be tired, it’s correct to give them some rest. “The risk is there can be an injury and we need players 100 per cent.” Comment now