Is Manchester City now Erling Haaland’s team? Probably not, but Josep Guardiola is in no mood to give his fiery striker a break despite being in the middle of a huge marathon season
Manager Josep Guardiola admitted he was “really sorry” but could not afford to let Erling Haaland rest any longer.
No player has started more games or played more minutes for City this season. Haaland has played all but one minute in Norway’s four World Cup qualifying games since June. But the Norwegian goal machine is too important for Manchester City to allow him to rest in the Premier League or Champions League during what is shaping up to be a grueling 13-month season for the striker.
His only time off for City so far has been in the Carabao Cup win over Huddersfield. They are likely to pick up another point when they face Swansea in the fourth round next week. Haaland’s season begins at June’s Club World Cup and is likely to end in the United States next summer, with Haaland’s goals putting Norway on track for their first World Cup appearance in 28 years.
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After all, he’s likely to play in more than 70 games this season. However, national team manager Starre Solbakken wants him to rest a few more times during the season, but Guardiola has no reason to rest any of his key players and will only do so if they decide to win the title early.
Guardiola said: “I’m really sorry for my Norwegian colleague Starre Solbakken, but I’m not thinking about that.” “He will probably be rested at the end when we have 10 points in the Premier League and 10 games to go until the end.
“Right now he feels fit and feels good. In some games he looks tired and can’t play. We are in the position we are in now. The Champions League is very important. The games so far and the next two games at home will give us a really big chance of finishing inside the first eight.”
And Guardiola has looked at his rivals for the Premier League title and admits there is not much room for error as his team battles Liverpool and Arsenal to regain the title.
“I don’t feel like Arsenal are going to drop many points in the Premier League. That’s the reality,” Guardiola said. “Right now, Liverpool have lost their last few games in the league, but I saw them against United and they had a great chance to win the game. I think Liverpool are still one of the main favorites to win. Three or four points doesn’t mean much at this stage.”
“I feel like both teams are going to give up very few points, so we have to go there.”
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