Erling Haaland was substituted at half-time during Manchester City’s 0-0 draw with Borussia Dortmund and Pep Guardiola revealed the 22-year-old was struggling with influenza and fatigue, but Haaland also picked up a knock that threatens to rule him out of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Leicester City.
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As per City’s official website, Guardiola told reporters: “He had a knock in his foot. That’s why he was not able to play the second half.” Haaland played for 45 minutes in Tuesday’s Champions League group game and didn’t impress against his former club, so it was clear he wasn’t 100%. City can’t afford to lose the Norwegian international, however, as goals are drying up in the squad.
The Premier League defending champions have failed to win three of their last four games in all competitions and have failed to score in those games. Haaland, who has 22 goals from 16 games this season, has scored 66% of all City’s goals since their 4-0 win over Southampton three weeks ago and nobody else has stepped up when he’s fired blanks.
Guardiola only has two players with more than two league goals this campaign– Haaland (17) and Phil Foden (6). Jack Grealish (1), Riyad Mahrez (1), Julian Alvarez (2) and Bernardo Silva (2) have as many goals as Foden combined, so City won’t be prolific in Haaland’s absence. Time will tell if he’s passed fit in time.
In other news, Ilkay Gundogan has decision to make whether to follow Fernandinho or David Silva
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