Pep Guardiola has moved to calm fears over Erling Haaland’s health after the Manchester City hitman was compelled off injured in Sunday’s victory over Aston Villa.
The Premier League’s main scorer was changed by Julian Alvarez at half-time after a collision with Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez left Haaland in some discomfort.
With a season-defining assembly with Arsenal developing on Wednesday, City followers – and people of any of Arsenal’s rivals – have been sweating over what may very well be a significant enhance to the Gunners’ hopes of successful the Premier League title.
Asked about Haaland’s health after the sport, Guardiola instructed Sky Sports: “I don’t know, he had a big knock and he wasn’t comfortable. We will see and we will assess in the next days.
“If he is not prepared, we’ll play one other one. Hopefully he is prepared like everybody however we’ll see.”
Guardiola continued: “At half-time I spoke with the medical doctors. They stated possibly with the rating like it’s we do not take dangers, and I agreed.
“If the score was tighter, then maybe I don’t do it. I think he is not injured but on Monday we are going to see. Hopefully he can be in for Wednesday. But if he is not ready or there is some risk, he is not going to play.”
Haaland failed to attain in his 45 minutes towards Villa however did arrange teammate Ilkay Gundogan, who was full of reward for the Norway worldwide after the sport.
“We know that Erling scored a lot of goals so far, but today in the first half he made the runs that we need,” he added. “He went into the areas where he can create space for the other players coming from the back, and he played well.
“Hopefully he isn’t too injured as a result of we’d like him.”
With Arsenal dropping points to Brentford at the weekend, City now sit three points behind Arsenal and their superior goal difference means they would actually go above the Gunners with a victory, although Mikel Arteta’s side have played one game fewer than their closest competitors.