Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that Erling Haaland is close to full fitness.
The Norwegian international was substituted at half-time during the Cityzen’s 2-2 draw against Barcelona on Tuesday night, with Guardiola confirming after the match that the striker was suffering with more than one niggling injury. However, speaking ahead of the final pre-season friendly against Chelsea, Guardiola said that Haaland’s fitness has improved over the last few days:
“He told me today he woke up and feels much better. And hopefully tomorrow he can play a few minutes.”
As Guardiola says, Haaland won’t be risked from the start versus Chelsea in Ohio but he may come on for the closing stages of the game.
Haaland’s injury record has been poor over the last 12 months
The 23-year-old has spent a good deal of time on the treatment table since the beginning of last season. He missed 14 matches in total across the course of the 2023/24 campaign due to muscular problems and a foot injury.
However, it would be harsh to label Haaland injury-prone. The broken bone in his foot he suffered last December was the longest he has been sidelined during his professional career (seven and a half weeks).
City should have plenty of players back in the fold for the Community Shield
From the sound of things, it seems like Haaland will be fit and available when the Premier League champions take on rivals Manchester United in the season curtain-raiser next Saturday.
Other players who featured for their countries in the finals of Euro 2024 and the Copa America should also be back in full training ahead of that game at Wembley. Guardiola has, though, already said that his team are playing catch-up fitness-wise due to so many first-team starters returning late.
Find out who is in Manchester City’s first-team squad for 2024/2025 season here
