Sport: Manchester City suffers another injury blow as Guardiola gives update on Haaland’s injury scare ahead of Real Madrid second leg
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has expressed optimism that Erling Haaland will be fit for their Champions League playoff second-leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Speaking after a 4-0 win over Newcastle, Guardiola admitted he was “scared” by the Haaland’s second-half injury against Newcastle.
The Norwegian striker went down clutching his knee in the final minutes at the Etihad.
Haaland appeared to jar his right knee without any challenge before falling to the pitch in discomfort.
But after a period of treatment, the 25-year-old was able to walk off before watching the rest of the game from the substitutes’ bench.
“When he went down, everyone was scared,” Guardiola said.
But he walked off smiling and the doctor didn’t tell me bad news so hopefully he is fine.
“I have not spoken to the doctor. Maybe it’s not bad as it could be.”
City must overturn a 3-2 first-leg deficit against Real in the Santiago Bernabéu to reach the round of 16.
Haaland scored City’s two goals during last Tuesday’s loss against the reigning Champions League champions at the Etihad.
Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji will be missing for “eight to 10 weeks” after tearing his abductor muscle, said Pep Guardiola.
The Premier League champions are already without Ballon d’Or winner Rodri who got injured in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Etihad.
Akanji suffered the issue in the first half of City’s 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday and was replaced at the break.
City went on to lose thanks to a Jude Bellingham winner in the 92nd minute, having led twice.
Akanji is expected to spend the majority of the remainder of this season on the sidelines.
Guardiola said: “Surgery on Saturday. Eight to 10 weeks out. His abductor is broken.
“We wish the best recovery for Manu because the effort he has done this season has been unbelievable.
“Him and Nathan [Ake] have played in difficult conditions, not being in top [shape], to help the team in the emergency we had with a lack of players we had in the centre-back position.
“In the end, the body said, ‘enough is enough’.”
Guardiola was more positive with an update on Jack Grealish after he too limped off in the first-half of the Champions League knockout phase play-off first-leg defeat.
The attacking midfielder is a doubt to face Newcastle on Saturday, but his injury is less serious than Akanji’s.
“It’s not as tough as what Manu [Akanji] has done but I don’t know if tomorrow he will be ready,” Guardiola said. “I don’t think so, but we will see, we will assess in the next hours.”
Guardiola also had an update on deadline-day signing Nico Gonzalez after the midfielder was forced off early on his Man City debut against Leyton Orient last weekend and was an unused substitute against Madrid.
We’re not stupid – Foden names team that won’t win title
Manchester City midfielder, Phil Foden, has admitted their Premier League title defence is already over.
The 24-year-old scored twice as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Brentford in midweek.
The result saw Pep Guardiola’s team drop points for the 11th time in 21 matches this season.
By comparison, the reigning champions failed to win 10 times in all of the 2023-24 campaign, as they lifted their fourth consecutive league title.
“The title? Yeah, yeah, it’s done for sure, it’s done,” Foden responded when asked about his team’s standing by Eurosport.
“We know. We’re not stupid. So we’ve got to aim for top four, that’s the next target now and then obviously Champions League as well. So it’s not as if the season has gone.
We’ve got to be realistic, haven’t we? The performances have not been good enough to get up there. The top four is our aim now and then see where we can be in the other trophies.”
City are currently in sixth place on the table ahead of this weekend’s trip to Ipswich Town.
They have 35 points after 21 fixtures, three points off fourth-placed Newcastle United and 12 behind leaders Liverpool.
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