Guardiola warnings ignored as Man City take opposite approach to Arsenal over Erling Haaland worry

Guardiola warnings ignored as Man City take opposite approach to Arsenal over Erling Haaland worry

Erling Haaland was named in the starting XI for Norway’s friendly against Czechia this evening, despite concerns over his fitness following a training session earlier this week

 

 

Norway’s forward Erling Braut Haaland (R) and Czech Republic’s forward Mojmir Chytil vie for the ball during the friendly football match between Norway and Czech Republic in Oslo on March 22, 2024. (Photo by Lise Åserud / NTB / AFP) / Norway OUT (Photo by LISE ASERUD/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)

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Pep Guardiola’s warning might not have been heard at Manchester City with Erling Haaland starting for Norway in their friendly game against Czechia on Friday evening.

 

 

City fans were worried this week about Haaland’s fitness. He was taken off the pitch last weekend and replaced by Julian Alvarez, which made people start to worry.

 

 

Haaland was then seen looking in pain during training with Norway. He finished training, but it gave Arsenal’s title rivals more cause for concern.

 

Norway’s doctors said after training that Haaland had ‘no problems’, and his national team allayed those fears further by naming him in their starting eleven – although he didn’t see out 90 minutes.

 

His club have clearly taken a different approach to the one adopted by Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, with Bukayo Saka having withdrawn from international duty completely in order to avoid aggravating an injury while with the England squad.

 

And Pep Guardiola, the manager of City, might not be too happy. Before the players went to play for their countries, he told them to be careful in friendly games in the hope they would stay in top condition to face the Gunners, reports the Manchester Evening News.

 

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