Pep Guardiola has confirmed Manchester City striker Erling Haaland could be absent for ‘up to seven weeks’ with the ankle injury he sustained at Bournemouth on Sunday.
Haaland limped out of the FA Cup tie shortly after the hour mark at the Vitality Stadium and was seen wearing a protective boot after the game.
The 24-year-old underwent further tests on Monday and Guardiola says he remains hopeful he will return before the end of the season.
PEP 💬 (On Erling Haaland's fitness) The doctors told me between five and seven weeks [out].
So hopefully for the end of season and FIFA Club World Cup he will be ready. pic.twitter.com/N8acuLgkYS
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 1, 2025
He said: “They told me, the doctors, [he will be out for] between five to seven weeks. So hopefully the end of the season and by the Club World Cup he will be ready.”
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Season of woe for Manchester City
It is the latest injury blow for Manchester City, whose hopes of a fifth successive Premier League title have been derailed by a series of setbacks.
“Sometimes there are years when these kinds of things happen,” added Guardiola. “It has happened all season. I would say that it could have been different if it was the end of the season [before the Club World Cup]. So with all the injuries we have had this season, I’m so sorry for them and for Erling as well. So [I wish him] a good recovery, as speedy as possible, then come back.”
No natural replacement for Haaland, admits Guardiola
City head into this match round in fifth place in the Premier League but with a host of clubs hoping to chase them down over the remaining weeks in the battle to end in a Champions League spot.
Guardiola now has a major problem to solve given City don’t have a natural replacement for Haaland.
“We don’t have another player with Erling Haaland’s skills or his specific qualities – we know that,” he said. “But we have to adapt, and since many years we’ve played different ways up front, and it depends on the quality of the players.
“We will find a solution from the players that we have. They all have different skills and qualities. We will have another one [striker].”
Leicester won’t be easy – Guardiola
City face Leicester at the Etihad tomorrow night and Guardiola insists it will be a difficult assignment despite the visitors having lost their last six league games without scoring a goal.
The Catalan said: “I know how tough Leicester are. I have been impressed by the way they have played the last two games. They played really well against Chelsea and against Aston Villa they played really good, in different ways.
“They did really well. So we need them [the fans] desperately to achieve our success and to be in the Champions League again.”
