Pep Guardiola has stated that Erling Haaland will be out for up to seven weeks with his ankle injury but will be ready for Manchester City’s Club World Cup campaign.
In a considerable blow to City’s bid to qualify for the Champions League and claim the FA Cup, Haaland was forced off during Sunday’s Cup quarter-final at Bournemouth. Guardiola was asked how long City will be without their top scorer.
“Doctors told me five to seven weeks,” the manager said. “He’ll be back at the end of the season and for the Club World Cup will be ready.”
Guardiola’s team are fifth on 48 points with nine matches left and face Nottingham Forest in the Cup semi-finals on 26 or 27 April. Should Haaland be missing for seven weeks, he would miss for the Cup final on 17 May if City get there but be back for the final league match at Fulham eight days later. City’s opening Club World Cup group game is on 18 June against the Moroccan club Wydad.
Haaland was replaced at Bournemouth by Omar Marmoush, who scored the winner in the 2-1 victory. Guardiola was asked whether the Egyptian could replace Haaland as the No 9.
He said: “We will find a solution … We don’t have another player with his [Haaland’s] skills or specific qualities. We have to adapt. We need players with other qualities and we have to bring more players with a sense of goal close to the box. That’s for sure. Because of course Erling’s numbers again have been exceptional and he is our incredible threat for many things, for the long balls, for the sense of goal.”
City host Leicester on Wednesday and a home fans’ protest is asking supporters not take their seats for the first nine minutes owing to unhappiness at rising ticket prices and last week’s announcement of a partnership with Viagogo, a ticket resale site.
Guardiola said: “Of course I have sympathy. When the fans can express good moments or bad moments or feelings, it’s because the team and the club is alive. So the worst is when you cannot express yourself. Only I can say that we need them. Since minute one.
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“The club has to take [decisions] for the benefit of the club. The club doesn’t take it for granted. And the people, you know, we listen to both sides and hopefully the people can be convinced.”
