Why Haaland is not involved for City vs Leeds as Blues dealt major blow
Erling Haaland is not in the Manchester City squad for the Premier League clash with Leeds United
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland is missing Manchester City’s Premier League trip to Leeds United with injury.
The striker is not in the City squad for the Premier League clash with Leeds United at Elland Road tonight. Haaland featured in the win over Newcastle United last time out and Blues boss Pep Guardiola made no mention of an issue for the Norway international during his press conference on Friday.
But he is not involved at Leeds with Rayan Cherki coming into the side in his place and Omar Marmoush set to lead the line. Haaland has picked up an injury issue and although it is not serious, it is enough to sideline him today.
Guardiola, speaking ahead of kick off at Elland Road, said: “Two days ago in training he had some problems and a little injury. Not a big issue but not ready for today. We are without one top striker and we are playing with another top striker.”
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City head into the game second in the Premier League table, five points behind leaders Arsenal who play at home to Chelsea on Sunday.
Haaland has been a mainstay for City this season and is the division’s top scorer. But he has suffered from fatigue in recent months and Guardiola spoke about the issues for his star striker in leading the line week in week out and facing physical battles with centre halves, as was the case with Newcastle’s Dan Burn a week ago.
Guardiola said: “We have to try to use it as less as possible, even with man-marking. We have make an alternative, not in man- marking, it is long balls against Erling and Burn, otherwise, every three days doing that for a striker like Erling is unsustainable. We have to make alternatives to try… still, I have a dream, to play and play and play more that we are playing sometimes, even if with man-marking that is difficult.
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