Erling Haaland was substituted at half-time during Manchester City’s draw with Barcelona. Pep Guardiola revealed that the Haaland injury was causing discomfort before his withdrawal. The striker struggled in the first half in Orlando and was taken off to avoid further risk.
Haaland had a free summer since Norway did not qualify for Euro 2024. However, Guardiola noted that the 24-year-old has been experiencing muscle discomfort during pre-season. The City boss, managing a squad of young players and a few senior stars, wants Haaland to step up training despite the injury.
“Erling is not comfortable. We don’t want to take risks. But sooner or later he has to take a step with training and minutes,” Guardiola said. “The season is around the corner. He has niggles, muscular, and we don’t want to take a risk and lose him for three weeks or a month. That would be a problem.
“He didn’t feel good, and that’s why he didn’t play the second half. Sixty to 70 percent of the squad are on holiday. That’s why we need the players. At the same time, we have alternatives, and Oscar [Bobb] makes an incredible job again. We’re pleased with many things.”
Guardiola hopes a fully fit Haaland will start the 2024-25 Premier League season. The former Borussia Dortmund star missed nearly two months last term with a foot injury and missed two more games later with a muscular issue.
Meanwhile, Jack Grealish has bounced back from the disappointment of missing the England squad with a positive pre-season. He scored in the 2-2 draw with Barcelona on Tuesday. Pau Victor put the La Liga side ahead, and City youngster Nico O’Reilly equalized. Pablo Torre restored Barca’s lead just before half-time, with Haaland withdrawn at the break. Grealish equalized on the hour-mark.
Pep Guardiola has managed Erling Haaland’s minutes carefully during Man City’s pre-season campaign, focusing on his recovery. Grealish hopes for a better campaign at the Etihad Stadium after struggling to secure a regular place in the Premier League title-winning side last season and missing out on Euro 2024.
Reflecting on his exclusion from the England squad, Grealish said, “If I sit here and say that I don’t feel like I should have been in the squad, you’re gonna be thinking, ‘What’s this guy like? What’s he thinking?’. So, of course, I thought I should have been in the squad. I felt like I offer something different to the players in the England squad, but it is what it is.”
