Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that summer signing Erling Haaland will be rested as soon as fixture demands increase in order to protect him from getting injured.
The Norwegian striker joined City from Borussia Dortmund during the summer as one of the top strikers in world football, having scored almost a goal per game last season for the Bundesliga giants.
But his fitness record last season was very poor as he was limited to just 30 appearances in all competitions due to niggling injuries.
This season, Haaland has already started all three of Man City’s Premier League games, plus the Community Shield.
But according to his coach, once the demands on players increase later in the season; that is when the Champions League group stage starts and City gets involved in the Carabao Cup from the third round stage, he will be rested more often.
“Good food, good rest. People say the apartment he’s bought has a good bed. Nothing special. What is important is he doesn’t have niggles. The physios and doctors did an incredible job since he arrived to avoid injuries,” Guardiola said after City’s 3-3 draw at St James’ Park, a match in which Haaland completed the full 90 minutes.
“Now he has one game a week. I tell you now when we have games every three days that Erling will not play,” the City boss continued.
“I will play Julian [Alvarez]. One of my favourite players is Bernardo [Silva] and he did not play until today. Riyad [Mahrez] is by far one of my favourite players – especially on the biggest stages – and today he didn’t play. When we start with games every three days, everyone is going to play.”
