Just before the hoped-for breakthrough, Manchester United is stopped by their city rival West Ham United. A loyal fan of the Red Devils has held onto his unusual promise for almost 500 days: only when his club wins five games in a row will he visit the barber again. Never before were the chances as good as before this match — but the goal now seems far away.

Haaland and the Mancunians wanted to use their impressive winning streak to make a statement. The English football record holder could have continued a small streak of success with a win against the Hammers. But the plan backfired. Instead of securing a fifth victory in a row, Haaland and his team suffered an unexpected defeat.

For the fan, this means patience — his hair will stay longer for a while. The crisis at Manchester United shows once again: consistency remains the biggest challenge. With Haaland in their ranks, more points could have been expected.