Stale Solbakken struggled to find the words to describe Erling Haaland after his two goals were enough to help Norway get off to a winning start in the Nations League. 

Norway began their campaign with a 3-2 victory at Ullevaal Stadion against Scandinavian rivals Denmark, with Haaland's 74th-minute strike proving to be the difference. 

Oscar Bobb and Haaland had put Norway two goals to the good after just 18 minutes, only for Mikkel Damsgaard's 25th-minute free-kick to halve the deficit for Denmark. 

Denmark drew level on the hour through Rasmus Hojlund, but the in-form Haaland sealed the win with 16 minutes remaining when he lashed in at Filip Jorgensen's near post. 

Haaland has now scored in 10 of his last 13 competitive games for Norway and Manchester City combined (16 goals in total), and in each of his last six (nine goals).

The Norway striker last enjoyed a longer run between August and October 2025, going 12 straight matches with a goal, and Solbakken said Haaland's ability to find the back of the net is something that simply cannot be taught. 

"It is not possible to explain, it is also not possible to learn. He was born with it. It's instinct," Solbakken said of Haaland.

"As a goalscorer, he is special and unique. Many people ask me how he has become so good. He has a fantastic physical package, he is better in the play-off phase than ever.

"He has something that cannot be trained. To think where the ball is coming, or where to run. It's something that sits in here."

Haaland also ranks as the top scorer in the history of the Nations League, with his brace taking him to 21 goals in the competition, at least six more than any other player. 

Enzo Maresca said ahead of the start of the season that Haaland would be rested in certain games to get the best out of him, something Solbakken completely agrees with. 

Haaland has scored seven goals in seven appearances across all competitions so far in 2025-26 for the Citizens, while also amassing 593 minutes of action. 

"November, December and January are when he needs a break," Solbakken said of Haaland's workload.

"That's why I travelled over now, because it's important to me that we avoid that break now. They are aware that at some point he will have to rest."

And Haaland even earned praise from Denmark boss Brian Riemer, who admitted he would love to have a player like the Norway number nine in his ranks. 

"I don't think you can improve 100% when Haaland is on it," Riemer conceded. "He's an attacker who can disappear at times of the game – and you don't see anything of him.

"But then you give him a quarter chance, and then that's kind of the picture we see. He is so cynical. He needs so little to decide games. That's what wins football matches."