Manchester City have been dealt a major blow as star forward Erling Haaland is expected to be out of action for seven weeks after sustaining an ankle injury against Bournemouth.
The Norwegian forward was forced off in the 61st minute in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth to seal the club’s place in the semi-final of the FA Cup.
Pep Guardiola has now confirmed that Erling Haaland is expected to be out of action for seven weeks, dealing a major blow to the team after their disappointing showing this season.
The Spanish manager confirmed Haaland’s injury in a pre-match Conference ahead of the Premier League clash against Leicester City on Wednesday.
He said: “The doctors between five to seven weeks. So hopefully at the end of the season and by the Club World Cup he will be ready.
“Sometimes there are years when these kinds of things happen. It happened all season. I would say that it could have been different if it was the end of the season [before the Club World Cup]. So with all the injuries we have had this season, I’m so sorry for them and for Erling as well. So [I wish him] a good recovery, as speedy as possible, then come back.”
Guardiola said that he and his coaching staff will find a solution to replace Haaland in the next few weeks.
He said: “We will find a solution from the players that we have. They all have different skills and qualities. We will have another one [striker].
“We don’t have another player with his skills or his specific qualities. We know that. But we have to adapt. For many years we have played in different ways up front. It depends on the quality of the players. We are going to try to find a solution.”
Manchester City fans are planning to stay outside the Etihad Stadium for the first nine minutes against Leicester City in protest against the club’s deal with a third-party ticket agency.
Guardiola expressed his sympathy for the fans, while stressing their importance.
He said: “Of course I have sympathy. When the fans can express their feelings in certain moments it is because the team and club is alive. The worst is when you cannot express.
“This is a club where people can express [themselves] and be in touch. I am in touch, we are all in touch, with the fans and with the club.
“All I can say is that we need them. Since minute one, we need them.
“We are playing for the next season to be again in the Champions League. So we need them, but the people can think about it however they want.
“I know how tough Leicester are. I have been impressed by the way they have played the last two games. They played really well against Chelsea and against Aston Villa they played really good, in different ways.
“They did really well. So we need them [the fans] desperately to achieve our success and to be in the Champions League again.”
Haaland has been a key player for Manchester City since joining the club in 2023, scoring 120 goals and recorded 19 assists in 138 matches for Manchester City.
He led the club to an historic treble in his first season as they swept all before them, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and the Champions League.
He has scored 38 goals and recorded five assists in all competitions for Man City this season.
