Erling Haaland's brilliant improvised winner against Borussia Dortmund proves he can bring Manchester City European glory, claims Rio Ferdinand.
The Norwegian, who moved from Dortmund to City in July for £51million, scored an incredible flying volley in the 84th minute to help Pep Guardiola's men beat the Bundesliga side 2-1 in the Champions League group stage on Wednesday night.
And Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand, working as a pundit for BT Sport, insisted the strike - compared by Guardiola to Johan Cruyff's genius - shows he can deliver City the Champions League title they crave.
He said: 'They've got that way of winning that they used to not be able to. (Joao) Cancelo crossing that way in the game and they know someone can get on the end of it.
'Zlatan (AC Milan striker Ibrahimovic) is probably the only type of player that could score that goal. Haaland is the player that can make a difference and (help City) go on and win the Champions League.
'He's a striker that you look at in the changing room and you think 'he's that one striker who just needs one chance. That man will get us out if it if we aren't at the races today.''
Guardiola waxed lyrical after the match, adding: 'What a goal. I remember when I was at Barcelona, Cruyff scored a similar goal against Atletico and it's nice having him, like Johan.'
Jude Bellingham's header shortly before the hour had put the visitors ahead at the Etihad Stadium.
Defender John Stones, typically a centre half but playing at right back, then picked up the ball in a half-space on the right-hand side and lashed in a superb dipping 20-yard effort with 10 minutes left, before Haaland volleyed home Joao Cancelo's cross.
When told his winner was almost like City had written their own script, Haaland told BT Sport: 'Yeah, it was. In the end, we showed what we are. This is what we are, this is how we have to play and I'm proud of the last 20-30 minutes.'
While looking at Stones, he then joked: 'Two wonderful goals today, mine was a bit better honestly! But yeah, Cancelo, nice cross.'
After BT Sport journalist Des Kelly asked Haaland to speak about Dortmund defenders denying him space and said 'they clearly know how to stop you', he responded: 'They didn't stop me, I scored!
'But yeah, they played well, they were good. I was quite sure I was going to be followed the whole game because Edin (Dortmund boss Terzic) knows me very well. Dortmund were really good today but in the end, three points is what matters.'
Fellow goalscorer Stones added in the same interview: 'I try to take up those positions (for my goal).
'The manager wants us in those kinds of areas for things like that and to control the counter-attack as well, we're in good positions for balls that come to our side of the box, picking up the pieces. I was getting a few shouts but I decided to pull the trigger and it came off.
'It was difficult. We were definitely not at our best tonight. First half we didn't play at the tempo we should have, we didn't use the ball well, had a lot of sloppy passes and things like that.
'At half-time we had some stern words between each other and tried to change that for the second half, I think we did as well.'
Haaland, who admitted it was 'good to see' his former team-mates, later joked to Dortmund staff 'Don't beat me up' as he walked past them in the tunnel after the game.