Pep Guardiola gives Jamie Carragher’s assessment the treatment it deserves

Before Manchester City went down 3-1 to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night, the news that Erling Haaland wouldn’t start the match was the biggest talking point ahead of kick-off. City’s top-scorer suffered a knee injury against Newcastle and wasn’t fit enough to start the must-win game. Following the game one of the biggest talking points to arise from the game was Jamie Carragher’s assessment as to why Haaland didn’t start the match. Pep Guardiola has had his say on Jamie Carragher’s assessment, and frankly, Guardiola’s reaction to it gives Carragher’s assessment all of the respect it deserves.

Speaking on CBS in quotes relayed by the Daily Mail, Carragher had this to say about Haaland’s absence from the Manchester City starting lineup for their clash with Real Madrid: “Let me work this out; Haaland has gone to the manager in the morning and said he’s not fit? Do you think that’s got something to do with Rudiger? Is that because Rudiger is playing? He’s on the bench so he can’t be injured. I never went to see the manager on the morning of a game and said I’m not fit. So he’s injured, is he? It’s Rudiger-itis is it? Is that what we’re saying here?”

Pep Guardiola responds to Jamie Carragher’s assessment and his reaction says it all.

Speaking during the embargoed section of his pre-game press conference ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Liverpool Pep Guardiola was asked about Carragher’s comments. His reaction says it all. Guardiola looked angry, frustrated and flabbergasted by Carragher’s comments. Guardiola’s response can be seen below.

🗣️ Jamie Carragher suggested that Haaland pulled out of the game because he didn’t want to come up against Rudiger.

“Oh god.. Did Jamie Carragher say that? Oh God…. I don’t laugh”, says Pep.@BeanymanSports 🎥 pic.twitter.com/Mdq0bO6min

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 22, 2025

It was obvious to anyone that Erling Haaland was injured and forced to miss Wednesday night’s match. Pep Guardiola said exactly that before the game. Although Haaland was on the bench there was little to no chance of him playing at the Bernabeu. That was obvious when he went down injured against Newcastle. There was no grand conspiracy at play or anything else. Haaland has a knee injury and it’s as simple as that.

Of all players Erling Haaland isn’t one to pull out of a challenge so to speak. You don’t become the player Haaland is without having the necessary drive and determination to reach the level he has to reach that level and then maintain it. Jamie Carragher being a former player he should know that. But that was lost in his assessment before City’s defeat to Real Madrid. But his comments have created a story and that’s where we found ourselves now.

Pep Guardiola gave Jamie Carragher’s assessment the respect it deserves. That was none as Guardiola’s reaction to Carragher’s comments says it all. The hope is that Haaland is fit enough to start against Liverpool and can show exactly how driven and determined he is at the Etihad.