As Manchester City continue their pre-season tour of the United States getting the City squad ready for the 24/25 season is the main priority for Pep Guardiola. Results are meaningless as City prepare for the 24/25 season. But the champions also don’t want to pick up any injuries during their games in the United States. With this in mind, Pep Guardiola revealed after City’s penalty shootout defeat to Barcelona that Erling Haaland is being managed through City’s pre-season friendlies.
Speaking with the media post-game in an interview that was relayed by Jack Gaughan for the Daily Mail following City’s defeat to Barcelona, Guardiola revealed that his star striker is currently dealing with ‘muscle discomfort’. Guardiola told the media that he wasn’t prepared to take any risk with Erling Haaland. He explained: “Erling is not comfortable. We don’t want to take risks. But sooner or later he has to take a step with training and minutes. The season is there, around the corner. He has niggles, muscular, we don’t want to take a risk and lose him for three weeks or a month. That would be a problem.”
READ MORE: A hungry and motivated Jack Grealish could be a major weapon for Manchester City next season.
The fitness of Erling Haaland is now a story to monitor ahead of the 24/25 season beginning. City’s number 9 will have a huge role to play for Pep Guardiola’s side next season. But he will be vitally important to Manchester City at the beginning of next season. City will have a plethora of first team players making a late start to the season. After their international exploits this summer players such as Julian Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and more will have slow starts to next season. This makes players like Erling Haaland vital to Pep Guardiola at the beginning of the season.
The fitness of Erling Haaland is a concern for Manchester City. It is now a case of hoping that his ‘discomfort’ isn’t too serious and he can hit the 24/25 season fit and ready to make an instant impact.
