Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Erling Haaland will miss his Champions League match against Sevilla.
Haaland had suffered a ligament injury during Manchester City’s Champions League group stage match against Borussia Dortmund last week. The Norway international had started for Manchester City against his former club but was withdrawn at half-time.
Haaland subsequently missed Manchester City’s Premier League match against Leicester City on Saturday due to that injury. He was not in the Man City squad for their win against the Foxes.
With Man City already through to the Champions League round of 16, Guardiola said they will not risk the 22-year-old against Sevilla.
Pep Guardiola rules out Erling Haaland for the clash with Sevilla
Manchester City faces Sevilla at the Etihad Stadium in their last match of the 22/23 Champions League group stage. Speaking before the match, Guardiola confirmed that Haaland will not play against the Spanish side.
Guardiola said Haaland is feeling better but admitted the Norway international has not fully recovered from the injury he suffered against Dortmund.
The Man City manager was hopeful that Haaland would recover when they host Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday. “Feel better. Compared to Saturday, Sunday and Monday, every day feels better. It’s not 100% yet, we don’t want to take any chances. Hopefully we will have it against Fulham”, Guardiola said. [via Manchester Evening News].
Man City tops Champions League Group G with 11 points from five games. The defending Premier League champions have three wins and two draws in the Champions League this season.
Sevilla are third in the group with five points from five games, behind Man City and Borussia Dortmund.
Man City will be looking to earn another three points against Sevilla and end their group stage campaign on a high note.
Meanwhile, Haaland has been sensational for Man City since joining the English side in the summer transfer window. The young attacker was instantly launched at his new club and has already racked up 22 goals.
He has scored 17 goals for Guardiola’s side in the Premier League in just 11 appearances. That tally includes three hat-tricks, scored against Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Manchester United.
Haaland has also racked up five Champions League goals for Man City. That comes from just four appearances in the competition for City this season.
