Pep Guardiola Explains Erling Haaland’s Absence Against Real Madrid

Haaland Sidelined as Man City Fall to Real Madrid in Champions League

Manchester City’s Champions League campaign came to a disappointing end as they fell to Real Madrid, with Erling Haaland left on the bench for the entire match.

Manager Pep Guardiola later confirmed that Haaland was not fully fit, revealing that the striker himself made the call to sit out the game.

Guardiola: “Haaland Said He Wasn’t Ready”

Haaland’s omission from the starting XI raised eyebrows, but Guardiola explained that the Norwegian striker was struggling with discomfort following a knee issue sustained against Newcastle United.

“Erling tried to train after the last action against Newcastle. The scans showed everything was fine, but he still felt discomfort, even when walking up the stairs,” Guardiola said post-match.

“We spoke on the morning of the game, and he said he wasn’t ready, he didn’t feel good.”

City struggled in attack without their star striker, managing just a late consolation goal after Real Madrid dominated the tie with a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick.

Jude Bellingham Reacts to Haaland’s Absence

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, a former teammate of Haaland at Borussia Dortmund, expressed sympathy for the forward:

“You always want to play teams at their best. I hope he’s not too bad,” Bellingham told TNT Sports.

“He’s a good mate of mine, and I saw the video—hopefully, it’s nothing serious. But we managed the game well regardless.”

Can Manchester City Recover in the Premier League?

With Champions League hopes now over, Manchester City must shift their focus to the Premier League title race. However, Haaland’s fitness remains a concern as City prepares for crucial upcoming fixtures.

What do you think? Should Guardiola have taken the risk and played Haaland, or was it the right decision to keep him on the bench? Drop your thoughts in the comments!