Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gives an update on Erling Haaland's fitness as some surprising stats emerge in his absence.
Manchester City, who recently won 4-0 against Brighton, showed their strength even without Erling Haaland. Despite his injury concerns, the team's performance remained positive, with key players such as Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden leading the way.
De Bruyne's superb diving header set the tone early on for Manchester City's dominance, followed by Foden's impressive goal, marking his 50th and 51st Premier League goals. Julian Alvarez also scored in the second half, highlighting the team's depth and versatility in attack.
Although Haaland's absence may raise eyebrows, City manager Pep Guardiola remains optimistic about the situation. Despite statistics suggesting that the team is doing better without Haaland, Guardiola reiterated his preference for the Norwegian striker.
Pep Guardiola gives an injury update on Manchester City's Erling Haaland
Guardiola's recent interview with Haaland shows a positive outlook on the player's recovery. “I'd rather have Erling than not,” Guardiola said Sky Sportsshowing the striker's importance to the team's success.
With Brighton's early victory assured, this allowed Guardiola to rotate key players, ensuring they remain fresh for the upcoming games, including a challenging game against Nottingham Forest. Guardiola stressed the importance of rest and proper preparation, acknowledging the potential challenges given Nottingham Forest's speed and power.
He explained to Sky Sports, “After the next two games against Wolves and Fulham we have long weeks. But this will be tricky because Nottingham [Forest] they are fast and we have to be well prepared.”
