Pep Guardiola Reveals Haaland's Injury Will Keep Him Out for Up to Seven Weeks
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Synopsis
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that star striker Erling Haaland is expected to be sidelined for five to seven weeks due to an ankle injury. Depending on his recovery, he may miss key fixtures including the FA Cup final on May 17.
Key Takeaways
- Haaland likely out for 5-7 weeks.
- Potential return for Southampton match on May 10.
- Risk of missing the FA Cup final on May 17.
- Guardiola confident in squad’s adaptability.
- Haaland is City's top scorer with 21 goals.
New Delhi, April 1 (NationPress) Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, has announced that their star forward Erling Haaland is likely to be out of action for "five, six, seven weeks" due to an ankle injury. If he recovers in five weeks, he might be available for City’s Premier League match against Southampton on May 10. However, should his recovery extend to seven weeks, he risks missing the FA Cup final on May 17, provided City advances past Nottingham Forest in the semi-final.
"Sometimes we are accustomed to this in this country. It’s been a recurring theme this season. The medical team indicated a timeline of five to seven weeks. We hope by the end of the season and before the Club World Cup, he will be back," Guardiola stated to BBC Sport regarding Haaland’s expected return.
“There are years when these unfortunate events occur. It has been a tough season. I believe things could have been different had it been earlier in the season [before the Club World Cup]. I feel for the injured players, especially for Erling. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope he returns soon,” he added.
The Norwegian star aims to return for the final league match against Fulham on May 25, just ahead of the highly awaited FIFA Club World Cup in June and July.
Haaland suffered an injury to his left ankle and is currently undergoing additional tests to evaluate its seriousness. The club reassured fans that despite this setback, he should be ready for the crucial end of the season, including the Club World Cup, where City will participate as the reigning European champions.
With Haaland unavailable, Guardiola will need to explore other options for the striker position. When questioned about the possibility of Omar Marmoush stepping in as the primary striker, Guardiola was optimistic but non-committal, expressing confidence in his squad’s ability to adapt.
"We will find a solution with the players we have. Each has distinct skills and qualities. We will have another striker available. We don’t possess another player with his unique abilities; we recognize that. However, we must adapt. For many years, we have adjusted our attacking style based on our players' strengths. We will seek a solution," Guardiola remarked.
Haaland’s absence comes at a critical juncture in the season, with Manchester City currently positioned fifth in the Premier League standings. The defending champions trail Chelsea by just one point in the pursuit of a top-four finish and UEFA Champions League qualification. Their European campaign concluded earlier this year after elimination by Real Madrid, making domestic competitions all the more crucial.
Despite missing several matches earlier this season, Haaland remains the most prolific goal scorer for City, having scored 21 goals in 28 league matches. He ranks as the second-highest scorer in the Premier League, just behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
