Erling Haaland unavailable against Crystal Palace, confirms Pep Guardiola

Manchester City also compete in the FIFA Club World Cup

Erling Haaland will not play for Manchester City against Crystal Palace this weekend, according to Pep Guardiola, although he does not believe the striker’s injury concerns him.

Due to a foot ailment, Erling Haaland was unable to play for Manchester City in their previous two games against Luton last weekend and Crvena Zvezda this past week. Speaking during an interview with the media on Friday, Guardiola addressed Haaland’s circumstances by saying:

“[He] arrived today, we see the doctors and we will see. He’s had treatment [away.] Hopefully he can travel to Saudi [for the Club World Cup], after the game [vs Palace on Saturday], we see if he plays the first game or second.”

Asked whether Haaland would play against Palace, the City boss replied: “I don’t think so, maybe he surprises me.” Pressed on if he’s concerned about a lengthy layoff, Guardiola said: “No. It’s not fractured, just stress. Sometimes players recover quickly, longer. Day by day, week by week, how he feels. The moment he doesn’t have pain he will play.”

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After losing at home to in-form Aston Villa and drawing with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham in their previous league games, City’s thrilling victory over Luton put an end to a dismal run of four games without a win. In what will be their last home game before Christmas, City takes on Palace who are four points below the league’s top team Liverpool and fourth in the standings going into the match.

The winners of Club Leon vs. Urawa Reds will face the current Champions League winners in their first-ever Club World Cup semi-final on Tuesday. If City prevails, they will play the winner of Fluminese vs. Al Ahly or Al Ittihad in the championship game in Jeddah on December 22.

However, Palace, who was unfortunate to lose to Liverpool last weekend after Jordan Ayew’s contentious red card, will be the first team to visit City. Guardiola is not taking something for granted against a team that has occasionally shocked his team in the past.

Guardiola praised Hodgson and said he didn’t think the player would still be in charge at 76 years old like his opposing number, saying:

“He has the fire and passion inside to still be there. His teams are really good. They did incredibly well vs Liverpool at 11v11 [before the red card].”

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