Erling Haaland out for ‘five to seven weeks’ with ankle injury, says Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland will be out for between “five to seven weeks” with an ankle injury, according to his manager Pep Guardiola. Haaland was taken off in the second half of Man City’s FA Cup quarter-final over Bournemouth and was seen leaving the stadium on crutches. Man City start their Club World Cup campaign against Wydad AC on June 18.
Manchester City are set to be without striker Erling Haaland for up to seven weeks due to an ankle injury.
Haaland suffered the injury during the FA Cup quarter-final win over Bournemouth.
He left Vitality Stadium on crutches and wearing a protective boot, and will now likely miss a large chunk of the remainder of the Premier League season.
“They told me the doctors say between five to seven weeks,” said Man City manager Pep Guardiola.
“So hopefully the end of the season and by the Club World Cup he will be ready.
“Sometimes there are years when these kinds of things happen. It happened all season.”
Man City are fifth in the Premier League table, one point behind fourth-placed Chelsea, with nine games of the season remaining.
Guardiola’s side have battled several injury issues this season, none more significant than the ACL tear suffered by Ballon d’Or winner Rodri in September that has ruled him out for the entire campaign so far.
If Haaland is out for five weeks, then he would miss five Premier League matches and the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest on April 26.
The FA Cup final takes place on May 17, while Man City are also involved in the Club World Cup following the conclusion of the domestic season.
Man City start their Club World Cup campaign against Wydad AC on June 18.
“We don’t have another player with his [Haaland’s] skills or specific qualities, we know that, but we have to adapt,” added Guardiola.
“For many years, we’ve played with different ways up front and it depends on the qualities of the players. We’re going to find another solution.”
City face Leicester on Wednesday and then Manchester United on Sunday.
They may look to January signing Omar Marmoush to chip in with more goals in the absence of Haaland.
“We need players with other qualities and we have to bring more players close to the box,” said Guardiola.
“Erling’s numbers again have been exceptional and [he] is an incredible threat for many things with long balls and his sense of goal, but we have to adjust.
“It’s not about training, I know which players have a sense of goal more than other ones. “Everyone knows these players, and we have to get them close to the box.”
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