Man City: Pep Guardiola sends pointed Erling Haaland message to Norway manager after injury fears in training | OneFootball

Training footage showed Haaland holding his right leg in pain

Pep Guardiola has confirmed Erling Haaland is fit to face Sporting in the Champions League, but suggested he would like the Manchester City striker to have his minutes managed in the upcoming international break.

Footage emerged on social media of Haaland going down in training holding his right leg, and he did not look comfortable when he did eventually rise to his feet.

Guardiola insisted Haaland is “fine” and in contention as City prepare to take on Sporting in Portugal on Tuesday night, as he sent a pointed message to Norway manager Stale Solbakken when asked if Haaland needed a break.

The City boss responded: "I don't think so, maybe international games he can rest...”

Norway face Slovenia and Kazakhstan in the Nations League next week, as they go into the final two matches of the group level on points with Slovenia and Austria.

Haaland could not get on the scoresheet on Saturday, when City were beaten by Bournemouth to end a 32-match unbeaten run in the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola suggested Man City are unlikely to rest Erling Haaland

REUTERS

Like title rivals Arsenal, City have been hit with significant injury problems this season, with Kevin De Bruyne having been on the sidelines since mid-September and Rodri suffering an ACL injury against Arsenal to rule him out for the rest of the campaign.

Guardiola admitted it has been a “struggle” for his side, but urged City to accept the situation rather than allowing frustration to creep in.

Oscar [Bobb] was the most important player in pre-season and was injured, and we miss him a lot,” Guardiola said.

Jack [Grealish] is not still fit, some problems. You know the situation for Rodri - the best player in the world - he's not here for the rest of the season.

"When that happens, we know that we are going to struggle. And that is the point, to be able to accept that we are going to struggle, and it's fine, it's really fine. Every game will be more and more difficult than we had in previous seasons, when everything was smooth.”