Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has moved to allay fears over Erling Haaland’s fitness following the striker’s absence in City’s recent 2-1 victory against Luton Town due to a foot injury.
Guardiola expressed optimism about Haaland’s recovery, aiming for his readiness for City’s upcoming Club World Cup debut in Saudi Arabia on December 19.
Describing Haaland’s issue as a “bone stress reaction,” Guardiola assured that despite the setback, no fractures were detected.
“He wasn’t prepared for today’s match, and I don’t foresee him being ready for Crystal Palace [on Saturday], but we’re hopeful for his availability in Saudi Arabia,” Guardiola remarked. “His progress will be assessed week by week.”
The setback arose from City’s midweek clash against Aston Villa, where Haaland encountered discomfort the following day.
“He struggled to walk properly the day after. However, he’s feeling notably better now and can walk without pain,” Guardiola explained.
“Our medical team advises monitoring his recovery day by day, week by week. While a return for Crystal Palace seems unlikely, we’ll evaluate his condition.”
Despite Haaland’s absence, City managed a comeback victory against Luton Town, overturning a 1-0 deficit at halftime with goals from Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish.
Guardiola, visibly satisfied with the result, disclosed his halftime message to the team, emphasizing their response to adversity.
“I urged them to rise above self-pity. Football and life throw challenges at us. The true character of a team like ours shines in these moments,” Guardiola expressed.
“The streaks don’t define us; it’s these situations that do. Four winless games and trailing 1-0 in a tough arena – this is the test.”
Luton Town manager Rob Edwards, while proud of his team’s effort, expressed disappointment at falling short. “I felt like it was there for us today,” he said.
As City gears up for future challenges, Guardiola’s focus remains on nurturing recovery for Haaland while drawing inspiration from their hard-fought win, affirming that it’s these moments that truly define a team’s resilience.
