Erling Haaland WILL be ready for Norway’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Scotland despite Man City’s epic party, claims their boss as striker is urged to ‘rest’ ahead of the match
- Erling Haaland will be part of Norway’s side to take on Scotland on Saturday
- The Norwegian has been part of Manchester City’s wild Treble celebrations
- Despite this, Norway coach Stale Solbakken has ‘no doubt’ about the striker
Norway coach Stale Solbakken is confident Erling Haaland will be ready to shoot down Scotland after a 48-hour party to mark Manchester City‘s historic Treble.
The superstar striker arrived by private jet in his homeland yesterday afternoon to join up with Solbakken’s squad ahead of Saturday’s Euro 2024 qualifier showdown in Oslo. Along with many of his club colleagues, Haaland had still been celebrating City’s incredible season late into Monday night.
Solbakken, however, has no issue with the 22-year-old enjoying his achievements and will tailor this week’s preparations to give him the best chance of firing against Scotland.
‘I don’t know how much Coke or beer he has drunk,’ smiled Solbakken at yesterday’s media briefing.
‘It is important that he gets a rest and gets over both the euphoria and the feeling that you have done something big together with your team-mates over ten to eleven months.
Erling Haaland was a key part of Manchester City’s Treble celebrations last weekend
Norway boss Stale Solbakken insists he has ‘no doubt’ about Haaland ahead of Scotland clash
‘Then you must be allowed to relax a bit, for 48 hours or however long it takes. It won’t be like I go into his room and give an Al Pacino speech to get him started on Saturday. It’s about common sense. Rest, sleep and tactical training.
‘I have to respect that we may have to add a slightly different twist to Saturday than with another player, considering what he has been through.
‘It’s not like he can’t participate in tactical training, or that he can’t stay awake at tactical meetings.
‘He must be honest about how he feels. How affected and tired are you mentally and physically? How quickly can you process these impressions? I have no doubt that he can do it.’
Meanwhile, Scotland assistant coach John Carver believes his own team’s concern about the impact of Haaland on Saturday will be mirrored by Norwegian wariness of Scott McTominay and John McGinn.
McTominay scored both goals in March’s 2-0 win over Spain and also found the net against Cyprus, while McGinn has four goals from his last six caps.
The Norwegian forward enjoyed the celebrations with his team-mates after their Treble win
Asked about Haaland, Carver joked: ‘Is he still partying? He’s had more parties than we did when we qualified [for Euro 2020]! He’s a professional. I’m sure he’s looked after himself.
‘Let’s see what he is like when we get there. He is a super player but they will be worried about some of our players as well.
‘McTominay, for example. I mentioned him because he scored in the last two games. He (Solbakken) will be aware of him. They’ll be concerned about him.
‘They’ll be concerned about John McGinn, his form for Villa. Because he’ll be watching the Premier League. That’s just to name two. He’ll look at some of the other players in the team. They’ll have their concerns about us.’
