Guardiola downplayed concerns about Erling Haaland’s long-term fitness after the striker was unable to play in Manchester City’s 2-1 victory against Luton due to a foot injury. The coach expressed his hope that the highly productive Norwegian will recover in time for City’s first match at the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia on December 19th.
Guardiola reported that Haaland was dealing with a “bone stress reaction,” but clarified that no bones were actually broken. He stated that Haaland was not prepared to play today and may not be ready for the game against Crystal Palace on Saturday, but expressed hope that he’ll be fit for their match in Saudi Arabia. Guardiola added that Haaland’s progress will depend on how he feels each week.
The manager of the city stated that the issue arose during the loss at Aston Villa earlier this week. “The following day, he had trouble walking. However, I spoke with him yesterday and he informed me that he was feeling significantly better and could walk without any discomfort.” The doctor advised to monitor his progress on a weekly and daily basis to determine when he will fully recover. It is unlikely that he will be ready for the upcoming match against Crystal Palace, but it is still uncertain.
After his team overcame a 1-0 deficit at halftime and ended a streak of four consecutive Premier League games without a win, Guardiola appeared satisfied. Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish responded to Elijah Adebayo’s first-half goal with goals of their own in stoppage time. Guardiola, who deemed this victory as “important,” shared that he motivated his players during halftime.
I asked them, “Are we going to wallow in self-pity? It’s just a game of football, a part of life. We have to accept that sometimes things don’t go our way. And even if they score another goal, are we going to keep complaining and blaming bad luck?”
In these types of situations, the larger and more established teams are often seen as the defining factor. However, winning 18 consecutive games does not truly define a team. It is in the present moment, with four games lost and a difficult game ahead, that a team’s true character is revealed. This group is already exceptional, so there is no need for them to prove themselves to me. However, in order to succeed in this competition, they must continually prove their capabilities.
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The Luton manager, Rob Edwards, expressed a mix of pride and disappointment, stating that he believed the opportunity for victory was within their grasp today.
Source: theguardian.com
