Bundesliga
"I've never seen anyone like Haaland!" - Reus
Borussia Dortmund captain Marco Reus is awe of teammate Erling Haaland and says he has "never seen anyone like him" at the club.
Reus missed BVB's 2-2 draw away to Cologne on Matchday 26 with an injury, but Haaland struck a brace in that game, including a last-minute equaliser, taking his tally to 21 for the season.
As disappointing as the result was from a Yellow-and-Black perspective, it provided yet more confirmation, if any was needed, of Haaland's astonishing eye for goal. And Reus himself is certainly among the Norwegian’s admirers.
Watch: Highlights of Dortmund's draw in Cologne
"I've never seen anyone like Haaland at this club," the 31-year-old told the Kicker meets DAZN podcast. Considering Reus played alongside Robert Lewandowski for two years, as well as the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Paco Alcacer, that is quite the statement.
"He's unique. He's still very young. He's developed massively over the past six to nine months. He's become really good with the ball at his feet and with a defender at his back. That wasn't the case when he first joined us, but his achievements and goals give him an unbelievable power that helps us."
The draw in Cologne kept Dortmund in fifth place in the Bundesliga standings, four points behind Eintracht Frankfurt in fourth spot, setting up a decisive Matchday 27 encounter after the international break when the Eagles visit the Signal Iduna Park on Saturday 3 April.
Reus is aware of the significance of the fixture. His side are 18 points behind leaders Bayern Munich so a tilt at the title is no longer realistic with just eight games left to play. But there are still other objectives to be achieved.
Watch: Haaland: half man, half machine
"Our aim has to be finishing in the Champions League places and to win the DFB Cup," Reus said. "And anything is still possible in [this season's] Champions League. We'll need to play two games at the highest level in the quarter-finals [against Manchester City], and we can't afford to make any mistakes.
We've still got to play against our direct rivals in the Bundesliga, so we've still got matters in our own hands." That and Haaland's trusty left boot…