It’s undeniable that Manchester City is a formidable team to watch in any tournament they enter. However, recently, a wave of injuries has put Pep Guardiola‘s squad in a challenging position. Compounding this issue, Erling Haaland took a hit to his ankle during the match against Newcastle United. With just hours left before City’s upcoming game against Fulham, Guardiola offered insight into the 24-year-old’s condition along with updates on four other sidelined players.

Although there were initial concerns regarding Erling Haaland’s status, those worries quickly faded as he appeared in Tuesday’s Champions League showdown against Slovan Bratislava. Yet, he was substituted after 60 minutes—an action deemed precautionary—as Pep confirmed that the Norwegian star is fit. During Friday’s press briefing, Pep Guardiola reassured reporters with the statement: “Erling is fine,” indicating that Erling Haaland will be available for the clash with Fulham.

Nonetheless, this does not resolve all of Manchester City’s injury issues. The setbacks involving Kevin De Bruyne, Nathan Ake, Rodri, and Oscar Bobb persistently linger. The 53-year-old mentioned: “Everyone else except Nathan, Kevin, Rodri, and Oscar. The rest are OK,” confirming their unavailability remains an obstacle for the team. In the case of Kevin De Bruyne, he has been dealing with a groin injury since being substituted out against Inter Milan.

Then, there is Natan Ake who has been sidelined due to a thigh injury. However, both Natan and De Bruyne are anticipated to return by the end of this month. On the other hand, Rodri and Oscar have long-term injury concerns. Rodri faces a season-ending issue, and his recent effort to seek a second opinion in Madrid did not yield favorable results. Meanwhile, Oscar Bobb is expected to be out for about 3-4 months before making his comeback.

The fact that Erling Haaland’s condition isn’t serious no doubt provides some relief for the Spanish boss amidst the array of injuries affecting the team. However, Pep Guardiola remains concerned about his players’ well-being, and regrettably for him, his recent request for extended rest periods was rejected by the Premier League. So, what transpired?

While Erling Haaland gave Pep Guardiola Good news, the Premier League did not

With the updated Champions League format and next summer’s revamped FIFA Club World Cup looming, scheduling has become a major issue. Given the increase in injuries, these concerns are far from trivial. Pep Guardiola recently urged for additional recovery time after the Club World Cup—typically a three-week break before returning to Premier League play.

Unfortunately, this appeal was turned down by league officials, as he stated: “The club asked the Premier League to postpone it, to have more holiday, but it’s absolutely not allowed. The Premier League said no.” Expressing his exasperation further, he remarked, “Thank you so much! I don’t have the answer. I think we take a decision with common sense!”

It appears there’s no resolution in sight regarding Guardiola’s ongoing tensions with the Premier League. What’s your take on this? Share in the comments below.