Erling Haaland names Calvin Bassey as one of the reasons for the Premier League’s ‘toughness’

Manchester City and Norwegian forward Erling Haaland has revealed players like Calvin Bassey are what make the English Premier League a spectacle to play in, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 25-year-old joined Pep Guardiola's men in 2022 and has gone on to do exploits in the English top-flight.

Recently, he became the quickest player to score 100 goals in the Premier League, doing so in 112 games, breaking Alan Shearer's record of achieving the same feat in 125 games.

Despite winning two Premier League titles with the Blue side of Manchester, the former Borussia Dortmund man revealed that football in England is tough.

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Erling Haaland lauds Calvin Bassey's strength

Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast with Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, Haaland revealed that the physicality of players like Bassey is what makes the Premier League so highly revered.

“It's not easy [playing in the Premier League]. It's hard, it's very hard. Coming from Germany, here, it's different; it's more physical,” the former RB Salzburg striker said.

“It's more about duels, about contact. Even playing against Fulham, that's a top team. Look at the game, it's 5-4 in the end.

“It's incredible. When you play against Bassey, you know. How strong is he?

Erling Haaland and Calvin Bassey are having some battle this evening! ⚔️#FULMCI pic.twitter.com/FTjcRVSC1e

— Sleeper Football (@SleeperFooty) December 2, 2025

“Then you have Andersen, who's huge. Every game comes with its perks, even though you have your own plans. In the end, the physicality is intense because you also have so many games.

“That also means you have to work more on the recovery side and be ready for the next game,” the Norwegian concluded.

Bassey already mentioned in a previous interview that the lanky City striker possesses immense upper body strength, likening him to his countryman Victor Osimhen.