Erling Haaland, a striker for Manchester City, is fit to play against Southampton: Guardiola, Pep
Coach Pep Guardiola said on Friday that Manchester City striker Erling Haaland might play in the Premier League game against Southampton.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, said on Friday that goal scorer Erling Haaland might play in the Premier League again on Saturday against Southampton.
Haaland missed City's 4-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday and Norway's Euro 2024 qualifiers against Spain and Georgia last month.
"He trained extremely well over the past two days. He will be ready," Guardiola said of the striker, who has told reporters he has recovered from the injury and has scored 42 goals in 37 games across all competitions.
City will benefit from Haaland's return as the season nears its conclusion, when three trophies are still up for grabs.
City has also advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals and the FA Cup semifinals, finishing second in the league eight points behind league leader Arsenal but with a game in hand.
Their season will most likely be defined by their upcoming schedule, but Guardiola stated that his players are accustomed to pressure.
"It depends on us how many games we're going to play, Premier League for sure, Champions League, FA Cup," Guardiola stated. "The last part of the season, the international break."
"We're still in if we win, but if we don't, we're out... If we lose points, Arsenal will already be champions, but if we win, win, win, we might be champions at the end of the season. We are utilized to it, it's anything but an issue."
City will play Southampton for the third time this season on Saturday, making Ruben Selles the third manager of the south coast club to play Guardiola in those three games.
Guardiola responded, "Yes, it was difficult to predict how Southampton would play because of the managerial changes." It is the present day. Before, firing managers was difficult, but now it's coming up.
"You are in danger if you do not obtain results. It would be challenging to investigate Southampton in the event that their chief had been named yesterday, however they've played a couple of games," the Spaniard added.
"The pattern is obvious, but each team is competing for a reason; there is a significant battle for the Chief Association and to be in the Head Association." There are unique characteristics to each game. We must be prepared."