"Antonio was the bigger talent" – Norwegian coach reflects on working with Nusa and Haaland ahead of RB Leipzig vs Man City clash
| Nusa and Haaland celebrating a goal together for Norway. | Photo by Marius Nordnes / Nordnes Foto/Getty Images |
Two Norwegian stars go head-to-head on Wednesday night as Antonio Nusa and RB Leipzig welcome Erling Haaland and Manchester City to the Red Bull Arena in the Champions League.
Having coached Haaland at Bryne FK and Nusa at Stabæk Fotball, Gaute Larsen knows both players well and has shared some fascinating insights into their formative years ahead of Wednesday’s clash.
“I’ve been a professional coach for 35 years, and [Nusa] was one of the most technically gifted and talented players I’ve ever seen,” Larsen, who first watched Nusa play when the Norwegian winger was just 13 or 14, told RB Leipzig’s club media.
“Antonio was exceptional on the ball. He had great balance, was a fantastic dribbler and knew when to pass and when to take someone on,” added the 64-year-old.
Haaland, meanwhile, had some challenges to overcome on his journey to becoming one of the world’s best strikers.
“Erling was very tall and skinny, and he moved a bit like Bambi on ice. At 14 or 15, he didn’t have the same balance or ball control that Antonio had at that age," Larsen explained, admitting that he rated Nusa more highly when comparing the two at the same stage of their development.
“When they were both young, Antonio was the bigger talent in my eyes," he stressed.
Now in his third season at RB Leipzig, Nusa has taken his attacking output to another level, racking up five goals and seven assists in 13 appearances so far this campaign.
“I think we’re only just starting to see the best of Antonio. As he grows in confidence, he’s going to get even better," Larsen said.
The coach also praised Nusa’s character, stressing that his qualities extend well beyond the pitch.
“Antonio is very down-to-earth, both as a player and as a person. He looks after his friends and family. He’s a role model for young players," he said.
Nusa has had at least one goal involvement in each of his last three outings and will be hoping to extend that run against Haaland and Manchester City on Wednesday at 21:00 CEST.
