Erling Haaland Faces Up to Seven Weeks Out with Ankle Injury, Confirms Guardiola
Erling Haaland is set to be sidelined for up to seven weeks after sustaining an ankle injury, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola revealed on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old Norwegian striker, who has been in remarkable form this season, was forced to leave the pitch during Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-final after netting his 30th goal of the campaign.
Following the match, City announced that Haaland would consult a specialist but expressed optimism that he would still play a role in the remainder of the season, including participating in the FIFA Club World Cup this summer.
Providing an update on Tuesday, ahead of City’s Premier League fixture against struggling Leicester at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola stated, “The doctors informed me it could take between five and seven weeks. Hopefully, he will be fit by the end of the season and available for the FIFA Club World Cup.”
He continued, “In some seasons, these unfortunate events just happen repeatedly, and this year has been one of those.”
City’s title defense has been hampered by several injuries throughout the current campaign, most notably losing Ballon d’Or winner Rodri for a significant portion of the season.
Guardiola acknowledged that Haaland’s unique abilities are difficult to replace but stressed the need to adapt as City pursues a Champions League spot.
Currently sitting fifth in the Premier League, City remains on track to secure European qualification, bolstered by strong performances from English teams in continental tournaments.
With nine league matches remaining, plus an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest in late April, a seven-week recovery period could see Haaland miss the majority of the remaining domestic fixtures.
The FA Cup final is slated for May 17, just shy of seven weeks after Haaland sustained his injury. City’s final league match is against Fulham on May 25, and their first game in the Club World Cup, held in the United States, is scheduled for June 18.
Guardiola emphasized the need for other players to step up in Haaland’s absence, acknowledging the challenge of playing without such a prolific goal scorer.
“We need players with different qualities, and we have to increase our presence near the box,” he explained. “Erling’s statistics have been outstanding, and he offers a constant goal threat with his aerial ability and finishing instincts. Nevertheless, we will find a way to adjust and make the most of the players available.”
Despite the setback, Guardiola downplayed the difficulty of securing Champions League qualification, reflecting on past challenges the team has faced.
“We’ve encountered more difficult situations before,” he noted. “There were times when we had to win 16 or 17 consecutive matches to secure the Premier League title. Don’t tell me that wasn’t tough.
“Except for the first season together and one campaign when Liverpool’s form was extraordinary, we have consistently fought for the title. Now, we are in a position where we must compete to qualify for the Champions League. With nine matches left, we know exactly what needs to be done.”