'Erling is fine, but...': Pep Guardiola Warns Norway as they risk facing the wrath of the Man City boss after clear Erling Haaland warning message

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has been clear about his worries regarding the international commitments of his star player, Erling Haaland, during the November international break. Guardiola has previously said that he would prefer Haaland to rest during these games, especially given the pressure of managing a long and grueling season.

Guardiola stated, “Erling is fine… but I don’t think he should play all games. Maybe he can rest during the international matches in November.” However, despite Guardiola’s wish, Haaland played for 87 minutes and scored a goal in Norway’s 4-1 victory over Slovenia in the UEFA Nations League.

Norway’s Push for Promotion

Norway’s need for a win to stay in contention for automatic promotion to League A, as well as improve their chances for World Cup qualifying, meant that Haaland’s involvement in the match was crucial. This makes it unlikely that he will be rested for their next game against Kazakhstan. While Guardiola may have wanted Haaland to take a break, the stakes of the game for Norway were too high for the striker to sit out.

Guardiola’s Injury Woes at City

Haaland’s international duty comes at a time when Manchester City is already facing a tough injury crisis. The team has struggled with multiple injuries, leading to four consecutive defeats before the international break. Key players like Kyle Walker and Rico Lewis have had to play through injuries to help the team, with Walker playing the full 90 minutes in England’s 3-0 win against Greece. Similarly, Rico Lewis, who Guardiola admitted he couldn’t rest due to the injury crisis, also played the full match for England.

More Injury Worries for City

In addition to Haaland, other Manchester City players have been involved in international duty, adding to Guardiola’s concerns. Savinho, who has been struggling with injuries recently, started for Brazil in their 1-1 draw against Venezuela. Ederson, City’s goalkeeper, also played for Brazil, further increasing Guardiola’s anxiety about the potential for more injuries.

Managing a big club like Manchester City means that top players will often represent their national teams, but Guardiola’s worries are understandable. With City’s season at a crucial point, Guardiola can’t afford for any more key players to be sidelined with injuries.

As the international break continues, Guardiola will be keeping a close eye on his players’ fitness, hoping that none of them return with additional injury problems that could hurt City’s season even more.