In one game of the season, Erling Haaland Co. salvaged a last-minute draw against Arsenal in the English Premier League. The hotly contested affair saw tempers flare at the end, with Haaland asking Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta to “be humble.” This is what we love to see – passion and rivalry in the games. Not handshakes and exchanging pleasantries. Well, that’s a story for another day. For now, there are doubts about Haaland’s appearance in the next game.

Manchester City will face Watford in the EFL Cup or the Carabao Cup. Usually, this is a competition where the teams play their second teams in a bid to give youth a chance. However, Haaland suffered a devastating loss in his family. He lost his family friend, Ivar Eggja, and will attend his funeral.

As a result, he won’t be able to play in the important match against Watford, which is crucial for Manchester City. The team will probably field their 2nd team and bring in some youngsters too to gain match experience. For City, they want to challenge on all fronts. They have the team and capability to get into their groove even with their second team.

And even with Haaland missing the game, some players can come in to replace the striker. The Citizens will be without Julian Alvarez, who obviously left for Atletico Madrid. But who replaces Haaland at City?

One thing to note is that they don’t have a striker. Imagine a club like Manchester City not having a second striker. It’s really hard to imagine what they will do without the Norwegian striker. But, they might adopt a false nine approach with Phil Foden or bring Jeremy Doku to run in behind the players. Therefore, they have options to lead the team from the front. Meanwhile, Haaland would be expected to return for the game against Newcastle United on Saturday.

But Haaland’s loss is tragic from a personal front. He lost one of his number-one supporters.

Erling Haaland suffers a tragic loss in his family

Significantly, Eggja was an uncle to the Norwegian striker. Likewise, he shared a close bond with his father, Alf-Inge Haaland. In an Instagram post, Haaland dedicated a collection of pictures for his loved one.

He captioned, “What a legend you are Ivar. Words can’t describe how much you’ve meant to me! Words can’t be described but how much you feel to be missed!”

The family bond stays intact. Ivar Eggja became Alf-Inge’s best man after he married Haaland’s mother, Gry Marita. When the striker moved to Manchester City, Eggja assisted him in finding him an apartment to let him feel settled. Eggja leaves behind three children – Fabian, Felix, and Ine.