What Erling Haaland told Tijjani Reijnders in Man City dressing room to spark ‘assist of the season’

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Tijjani Reijnders set up one goal, scored another and then added an assist in Manchester City’s emphatic victory over Wolves on Saturday.

The £46m summer signing from AC Milan produced a stunning performance on his Premier League debut, first chipping the ball forward to Rico Lewis to tee up Erling Haaland before slamming in a goal of his own a minute later.

With City leading 2-0 at the break, Reijnders continued his impressive game by exchanging passes with Oscar Bobb and then cutting the ball back to Haaland for a goal that sealed the three points.

And Reijnders revealed how Haaland insisted that he find the striker in the second half after getting into similar positions before the break.

Erling Haaland told Tijjani Reijnders ‘he will always be there’ before Man City assist

Speaking to Sky Sports after the win, Reijnders said his debut ‘can’t have gone better’, and revealed Haaland’s half-time instruction that paid off as the pair linked up for the third goal.

He said: “I was always sharp for this kind of moments. In the first half I could do it also and I didn’t. And then [at half-time] he said ‘no, I will always be there’.

“So now in the second half, I had to do it. And yeah, he did very well.”

Reijnders’ link-up with Haaland bodes well for the coming season as Pep Guardiola likes his midfielders to run to the byline and cross for the striker – and Haaland is a prolific forward who feeds on such assists.

Jamie Redknapp calls Tijjani Reijnders pass ‘assist of the season’

In the Sky Sports studio, Jamie Redknapp was waxing lyrical over Reijnders’ performance, saying: “Sometimes you just need someone to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

“It felt like he just got hold of the game, his running power, athleticism, his control. He’s so calm, the ball is his friend. He had a beautiful smile and I just thought he’s really enjoying himself.”

Redknapp went further, praising City’s third goal which saw goalkeeper James Trafford clip a fine ball to Reijnders in midfield. The Dutchman advanced, found Oscar Bobb on the wing, received the ball back before setting up Haaland to score.

And Redknapp was so impressed with the mix of direct passing and fluid movement that he declared it the ‘assist of the season’ so far, with the Premier League only 24 hours into the new campaign.