Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that star striker Erling Haaland suffered a knock during their Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund.
Man City and Dortmund met in their latest fixture in the Champions League group stage, and the two sides shared points after a goalless draw.
Haaland started for Man City in the game, against his former side Dortmund. But the Norwegian, who had scored City’s winner when the two sides met earlier in the group stage, only lasted till the end of the first half.
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Man City manager Guardiola replaced the 22-year-old with Bernardo Silva at half-time. And, speaking after the match, Guardiola confirmed Haaland picked up a knock during the match.
Pep Guardiola explains why he took Erling Haaland off at half-time vs Borussia Dortmund
Guardiola listed three things as to why he took Haaland off at half-time. The Man City manager said he saw Haaland tired and that the Norway international had a fever before the game. Guardiola also confirmed Haaland had a knock on his foot.
“There were three things,” Guardiola said after the match. “Firstly, I saw him so tired. The second one [was] he had a bit of a fever, like Joao Cancelo. The third, he had a knock on his foot. That’s why he wasn’t able to play in the second half.”
Guardiola was also asked about the extent of Haaland’s injury but the Man City manager is not sure how long he will be out. “I don’t know right now. [The medical staff] were a little bit concerned at half-time, but I saw him walking okay at the end, so we’ll have to see,” Guardiola said.
Meanwhile, Man City earned a point from the fixture and it was enough for them to seal their place in the Champions League round of 16. The Premier League side tops Group G with 11 points from five matches.
Man City have three wins and two draws so far in the Champions League this season. They also enjoy a three-point lead over Borussia Dortmund, who sit second with eight points.
Meanwhile, Man City occupies second place in the Premier League points table. The defending league champions have 26 points from their first 11 matches in the English top flight this season. They are two points short of table-toppers Arsenal, who have 28 points.
