Pep Guardiola’s concerns about Erling Haaland’s workload during the international break were clear, yet they seem to have gone unheard by Norway. Earlier this month, Guardiola emphasized, “Erling is fine. [But] I don’t think he’s OK to play all games. Maybe, the international games [in November], he can rest.”
Despite this, Haaland played 87 minutes and scored during Norway’s 4-1 victory over Slovenia in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday. With Norway needing a win in their next match against Kazakhstan to secure a chance for promotion to League A and improve their position for a potential World Cup qualifying play-off, it seems highly unlikely Haaland will be rested on Sunday.
This situation will surely trouble Guardiola, especially given Manchester City’s ongoing injury crisis. Before the international break, City suffered four consecutive defeats, and many key players were sidelined. The international fixtures add further strain to a squad already stretched thin.
Kyle Walker, who rushed back from an injury to help City during their crisis, played the full 90 minutes for England in their 3-0 win over Greece. Similarly, Rico Lewis, whom Guardiola admitted he could not rest during City’s injury struggles, also completed the entire match.
Meanwhile, Savinho, recently dealing with his own fitness issues, started for Brazil in their 1-1 draw with Venezuela. Brazil also relied on goalkeeper Ederson, who played the full match.
For a club like Manchester City, having star players represent their countries is inevitable. But for Guardiola, who hoped this international break would allow his squad to recover and reset, these developments are a source of concern. Any additional injuries could exacerbate City’s already challenging situation, further testing Guardiola’s management as he looks to steer the team back on track.
