Manchester City assistant manager Kolo Toure has confessed that the prospect of facing Erling Haaland would have been enough to keep him up at night during his playing career. The former Ivory Coast defender, known for his unwavering approach during his Premier League years with Arsenal and Manchester City, where he secured title wins, admitted that the thought of coming up against a striker of Haaland's caliber would have made for some restless nights.

Toure, now 44, revealed his admiration for Haaland, acknowledging the challenges that defenders face when preparing to play against such a formidable opponent. "I won't tell you how I would stop him," Toure told media representatives, keen not to give away tactical information to future opponents. He added, "But I always say to him – when I had to play against a top striker, it was always hard to sleep at night. And I always say to him, 'Erling, a lot of them won't be sleeping before playing you!' That's what it's like when you have to play against a top striker".

Haaland is currently enjoying an exceptional season, boasting 34 goals in 26 appearances for both club and country. His contributions were pivotal in helping Norway secure their place at the World Cup for the first time since 1998. Earlier this month, Haaland reached a milestone of 100 Premier League goals in a record-breaking 111 games.

Kolo Toure, who also played for Liverpool and Celtic before transitioning into coaching, joined Pep Guardiola's backroom staff in the summer. He holds Haaland in high regard, considering him among the best he has ever seen. Speaking on his role working with the young striker, Toure said: "I help Erling by telling him stuff about what defenders don't like".

Toure also lauded Haaland's humility and openness to advice, despite his incredible talent. "I would say he's right at the top with Thierry (Henry) or (Alan) Shearer but what I really like from Erling is he's a humble guy,” Toure stated. "He's an incredible person. There is still big room for improvement and he's open to advice".

Toure's journey to his current position alongside Guardiola has been one of resilience. After a challenging stint as a No.1 coach in the Championship, which saw him sacked after just nine games, he has bounced back to contribute to Manchester City's success. Since joining Manchester City, Toure has been focused on mentoring players and sharing his expertise, including working with Erling Haaland on specific techniques. Toure said, "The first thing he told me is to work with the players a lot by doing a video session with them, showing clips where they can improve. I mentor them a lot, trying to advise them on certain things on the pitch, and do some individual stuff like the technique to finish or to defend".

Toure's insights and experience as a former defender provide valuable guidance to Haaland, helping him to further refine his game. The Ivorian's role in the Manchester City setup highlights his continued passion for the sport and his ability to contribute to the development of players at the highest level.