Manchester City striker Erling Haaland was forced off against Arsenal with a back issue, sparking injury fears. Pep Guardiola remains optimistic his star forward will recover in time for Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Burnley.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is crossing his fingers that Erling Haaland will bounce back in time for the weekend after the striker hobbled out of Sunday’s bruising 1-1 draw with Arsenal. The Norwegian goal machine shocked fans at the Emirates when he signalled to the bench after 76 minutes, complaining of sharp pain in his back. Guardiola had little choice but to withdraw his star man, raising alarm bells just days before another relentless run of fixtures.
Cup clash likely to come too soon
City travel to Huddersfield on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup, but the 25-year-old is almost certain to miss out. Guardiola admitted that the midweek tie will come too soon, but he did offer hope that Haaland could be back in time for Saturday’s Premier League showdown with Burnley at the Etihad.
Guardiola remains optimistic about Haaland
Speaking to the media, Guardiola provided an update on his talisman:
“Recovery yesterday [Monday], he didn’t train and I didn’t see him and the rest of the players yet today. Hopefully he can play at the weekend. It’s been such a demanding week, the last game especially, and sometimes the players have problems. I think he will be fine for the weekend. I hope so.”
Rotation expected for Carabao Cup tie
The Catalan manager has fielded the same starting XI in back-to-back matches against Manchester United, Napoli and Arsenal, but changes are guaranteed against Huddersfield. Haaland is not the only big name set for a breather, with injuries forcing Guardiola to call on academy players.
“It won’t be the same starting XI as the last three games,” he explained. “The only problem for the Carabao Cup is we respect this competition but arriving at the competition with no injuries and we have injuries. It will be a mix with academy players to play because the priority is Burnley, Monaco and Brentford. It would have been perfect for [Rayan] Cherki, [Rayan] Aït-Nouri, Omar [Marmoush] but there are many players who can’t play because they are injured. We will try to compete and go through.”
Guardiola braced for crunch run
With Huddersfield in midweek, Burnley at home on Saturday, Monaco in Europe and Brentford shortly after, Guardiola has little margin for error. The packed schedule is already taking its toll, and keeping Haaland fit could prove decisive in City’s title defence.
