Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a warning to Norway's national team boss, Stale Solbakken, indicating that star striker Erling Haaland may not receive extensive rest this season. Haaland's exceptional form has been pivotal for both Manchester City and Norway, with a remarkable 24 goals in just 14 appearances. This scoring spree has not only solidified City's position as strong contenders for major titles but has also propelled Norway closer to World Cup qualification.
Norway hasn't graced the World Cup stage since 1998, making Haaland crucial to Solbakken's ambitions. However, Guardiola faces his own dilemma, as he can hardly afford to be without the prolific goalscorer.
"I'm so sorry for my colleague Stale Solbakken from the national team of Norway but I'm not thinking about that," Guardiola stated. He admitted that Haaland's rest would only be a consideration if Manchester City were comfortably ahead in the Premier League with only a few games remaining. "Maybe at the end if we win the Premier League 10 points in front and 10 fixtures from the end he'll take a rest. Now he feels fit, he feels fine".
Guardiola also emphasized the importance of the Champions League, highlighting the team's strong position to potentially secure a spot in the top eight. "The Champions League is massively important. We are in a position right now where the games we've played so far and the next two games at home will give us a really, really big chance to finish in the first eight".
The Manchester City manager acknowledged the competitive landscape of the Premier League, particularly the strength of Arsenal and Liverpool. "In the Premier League, I don't have the feeling Arsenal are going to drop many points. That is a reality," Guardiola noted. "Liverpool lost a few games in the league but I think they remain one of the main favourites. Three or four points at this stage is nothing. I have the feeling both teams will lose few points and that's why we have to be there".
Haaland's relentless scoring record includes goals in his last 12 matches for both club and country. He is also approaching a significant milestone of 100 Premier League goals, boosted by his recent double against Everton. Guardiola had previously expressed that the team could not solely rely on the Norwegian goal machine. Following a recent 2-0 victory over Villareal, where Bernardo Silva also scored, Guardiola said he was pleased to see other players contributing. He drew a comparison to Lionel Messi, emphasizing the importance of diverse goal-scoring threats within the team.
After an injury-hit 2024-25 season, Haaland has returned to form, scoring more than 20 goals for club and country in the 2025-26 campaign. Guardiola is aware of the need to manage Haaland's workload, especially with Manchester City facing a packed schedule of six matches in under three weeks leading up to the November international break. Despite acknowledging Haaland's importance, Guardiola has stated, "Disappointed he did not score four or five. All jokes aside, really pleased but we can not rely on just him, we need other players". He has urged other attacking players to increase their goal contributions.
While Haaland's contributions remain vital, Guardiola is focused on ensuring the team's overall strength and resilience throughout the season.
