Josep Guardiola gives update on striker Erling Haaland’s injury that missed Manchester City’s Premier League win over Leeds: “I hope he’s back.”

It was not known until the day of the game that the division’s leading scorer would be absent due to an unknown injury.

And Guardiola refused to reveal much information in the aftermath of his team’s hard-fought victory at Elland Road.

“I hope he comes back,” the City manager told Sky Sports.

Asked when Haaland would be involved again, he added: “I don’t know.”

But Guardiola suggested the injury was not a “big problem”.

Haaland reveals he was inspired by Premier League legend

Video credit: TNT Sports

“There are no spies in the training center giving information to the media,” he later told BBC Match of the Day.

“I don’t think it’s a big problem. We’ll see.”

However, Haaland’s absence was alleviated as Antoine Semenyo scored the only goal of the game late in the first half against Leeds.

“One game at a time,” Guardiola said in a post-match interview with Sky Sports. “We’ve recovered, we’ve had a lot of games, people are tired.

“Every game is really, really tough. Yesterday Wolves won. The Premier League has never been better.”

“Qualifying for the Champions League is the main goal for the club because we have been there for the last 10 years.”

A tenacious and well-organized Leeds side pressed from the front and created several chances, forcing City to work hard for the three points.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin came close to scoring twice in the first half and there were strong calls for a penalty after the break for possible handball in the box.

Leeds manager Daniel Farke was sent off after the final whistle for confronting the referee.

However, it was a good thing for Guardiola. He was trying to ease tensions on the pitch as players from both teams clashed.

“We made 10 million passes, controlled transitions and created a little more in the last 20 minutes,” he said. “There are still big wins left.

“Once again, the players put in an extraordinary effort, because otherwise it would not be possible.”

Meanwhile, Leeds assistant manager Edmund Riemer spoke out about Falke’s sending off, saying the defeat leaves them with 31 points and still six points clear of the relegation zone.

“I talked to him a little bit,” Riemer said. “There were incidents, there was wastage of time, they got a yellow card in stoppage time, six minutes in.

“I think he got emotional and ran onto the pitch and got a red card. I think it was because of what he said. Maybe it was too aggressive.”

“He rarely gets sent off. I think it’s tough because he’s never aggressive and he rarely gets sent off.”