Erling Haaland: Manchester City striker sidelined for up to seven weeks due to ankle injury.
Erling Haaland faces up to seven weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury sustained during Manchester City’s FA Cup quarter-final victory over Bournemouth. The striker, who scored earlier in the match, was hurt after a challenge from Lewis Cook. City triumphed 2-1 to progress to the next stage.
Manager Pep Guardiola confirmed that Haaland will visit a specialist, although the club remains hopeful he will return before the season ends. With important fixtures ahead, including Premier League, FA Cup, and Club World Cup matches, Haaland’s absence could prove significant. City are aiming for a Champions League spot, and their FA Cup win has set up a semi-final tie with Nottingham Forest. They will also compete in the Club World Cup in June in the USA.
Guardiola indicated that Haaland could be out for 5-7 weeks, but hopes the striker will be back in time for the season’s final stages. Reflecting on the team’s injury woes this season, Guardiola said: “It’s just one of those years. I hope for a speedy recovery for Erling.”
Without Haaland, Guardiola acknowledged the team would need to adapt. “We don’t have another player with his specific qualities, but we’ve played in different ways up front before,” he said. “We’ll find solutions. We need players with different skills to get closer to the box.”
Haaland joins several other key players on the treatment table, including Rodri, Nathan Ake, John Stones, and Manuel Akanji.
Ahead of City’s match against Leicester on Wednesday, protests are planned by fans after the club’s partnership with a third-party ticketing site. Guardiola expressed understanding of the protests, saying, “I have sympathy when fans express their feelings—it shows the team and club are alive.”
