Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is hopeful that star striker Erling Haaland will recover in time for their opening match in the Club World Cup on December 19.
Haaland, the Premier League’s top scorer with 14 goals this season, was absent from City’s recent 2-1 victory against Luton Town due to a foot injury.
Guardiola expressed uncertainty about the duration of Haaland’s absence, citing a “bone stress reaction in his foot.” Emphasizing Haaland’s importance to the team, Guardiola acknowledged the challenges posed by injuries during the season but remains optimistic about the striker’s potential return for the prestigious Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
As City, the European champions, await their semi-final entry, the anticipation grows for Haaland’s fitness status in the upcoming global competition.
“Week by week, day by day, we will see what happens,” Guardiola said.
“Erling has been so important since he’s arrived. But during the season we see this sort of thing. Injuries, suspensions, problems – we have to adapt.”
