Is Erling Haaland going to play against Tottenham? When will he be back? These questions about the Norwegian striker have been a topic of recurrent discussion, fueled by uncertainty surrounding the Norwegian striker’s injury. Now, an update has come straight from Manchester City’s Head Coach, Pep Guardiola, who believes Haaland is close but still not ready.
The Sky Blues will soon square off with Tottenham Hotspur in Round 4 of the FA Cup. The Cityzens would ideally enjoy watching their team at full strength; however, Guardiola has announced that two key players from Manchester City’s roster will, unfortunately, be absent for this crucial fixture.
Pep Guardiola provides injury updates on his players
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In a recent press conference, Pep Guardiola stated that his star striker will not be participating in the upcoming game against Tottenham. He indicated, “Erling Haaland is still not ready, but he is close.” The Spanish manager also shared insights on the 23-year-old’s progress during training sessions. Positively, he noted, “Training camp was good [in Abu Dhabi], and he trained here the last few days. He’s not perfect…”
Pep Guardiola on Erling Haaland's fitness: "Training camp was good [in Abu Dhabi] and he trained here the last few days. He's not perfect…" [via @TyMarshall_MEN] https://t.co/huf1Q69Wkb
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) January 25, 2024
Moreover, updates were given on other crucial team members who have been battling injuries lately, like John Stones, Ederson, and Manuel Akanji. The Man City manager disclosed affirmative news regarding John Stones. He confidently declared him fit enough to travel for the game versus Tottenham.
Similarly, positive sentiments were echoed about Ederson, who is deemed “fine” according to Guardiola. Unfortunately, such optimism doesn’t extend to Manuel Akanji, whose participation has been categorically ruled out by the 53-year-old himself due to injury concerns. This development raises the question as to when will Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji return.
An overview of Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji’s situation
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Regarding Haaland, a glimmer of positive news emanates from the training camp situated in Abu Dhabi. It has been reported that his training sessions proceeded without discomfort, now confirmed by Guardiola. Projected timelines for his recovery suggest he could regain full fitness before this month concludes, positioning him for potential play against Burnley on 31st January.
Similar is the case for Manuel Akanji. Although absent at the Abu Dhabi training camp, expectations remain high for a return to optimal performance levels before month-end. Despite these recent challenges, it appears Pep Guardiola is nearing resolution concerning current player injury issues.
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