Manchester City's recent defeat to Aston Villa has been compounded by concerns over the fitness of star striker Erling Haaland, who collided with the goalpost during the match. The incident occurred late in the game, adding to the frustration for Haaland, who also had a goal disallowed for offside.
Following the match, manager Pep Guardiola addressed the media, offering a brief update on Haaland's condition. When asked about the Norwegian international, Guardiola stated, "hopefully he is fine". While this provided some reassurance, it did little to completely quell the concerns of fans.
Haaland, who has been in prolific form this season, had a relatively quiet game against Aston Villa, failing to add to his impressive goal tally. It was the first time he had failed to score for club or country since August. He had a shot saved early in the game and ultimately couldn't convert the opportunities that came his way. The collision with the post only added to his woes, as he appeared to be in visible pain after the incident. However, he managed to finish the game without being substituted.
With a Carabao Cup match against Swansea City looming on Wednesday, Guardiola may choose to rest Haaland as a precaution. This would provide the striker with extra time to recover ahead of crucial Premier League fixtures. City then face Bournemouth, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool at home before the November international break. Guardiola has hinted that he will rotate the squad for the Swansea game, giving opportunities to players who need minutes and providing rest for those who have played extensively. "The Carabao Cup has always been like that," he said. "The guys who take a lot of minutes be ready to show me and show themselves and the team they are completely recovered and ready mentally and the skills and everything to be ready to play".
Guardiola also emphasized the importance of not taking any risks with Haaland's fitness, especially considering the upcoming schedule. "In the previous season we were in that stage with a lot of injuries. Now we have less and now have players who need minutes to get. And the Carabao Cup is perfect for that".
In addition to the Haaland update, Guardiola provided news on other players. Rodri is still not ready to return from his muscular issue, despite being back in training. However, Abdukodir Khusanov is fit and will feature against Swansea. Rayan Ait-Nouri is also ready to start.
Manchester City's defeat to Aston Villa ended their five-game unbeaten streak and saw them lose ground in the Premier League title race. They now sit in fifth place, six points behind leaders Arsenal. Guardiola, however, is not overly concerned about the title race at this stage. "Our job is not to watch the title," he stated. "We try to close [the gap]. Arsenal have been solid for many years". He remains focused on improving his team's performance and ensuring they are in the best possible position heading into the busy winter period.
