Guardiola’s ‘head in his hands’ over Erling Haaland injury at Man City amid ACL fear
Man City manager Pep Guardiola was left fearing the worst after an injury scare for striker Erling Haaland in their win over Newcastle United, Paul Merson has suggested.
The former Arsenal man did however suggest that the Norwegian had avoided a serious injury after being forced off late on in that game.
A first-half hat-trick from Omar Marmoush, kick-started by a Kieran Trippier error, helped Man City to a dominant 4-0 win over the Magpies at the Etihad on Saturday (15 February).
That provided the perfect response for Man City following their collapse against Real Madrid in the Champions League in midweek.
Guardiola was however still given a late scare in this match ahead of the second leg in Spain on Wednesday (19 February) after an incident involving Haaland.
Erling Haaland hit by ‘ACL scare’ as Man City cruise past Newcastle United
Although he did not get on the scoresheet in that game, Haaland did still manage to register an assist when he teed up James McAtee to net a fourth late on.
Just moment after that though, the Man City striker went down just outside the Newcastle penalty area, seeming to land awkwardly.
The Norwegian international was then left holding his knee in apparent pain, and given his importance to the side, it is no surprise that Guardiola appeared concerned by that.
Ultimately though, with Haaland able to walk off the pitch himself, to be replaced by Matheus Nunes, there will be hope for Man City that he has avoided a serious setback.
Speaking about the incident on Sky Sports News, Merson said: “He’s just got up and he’s walking off the pitch now, but he goes to close someone down and as he goes it seemed like his knee sort of gives way, sort of jarred.
“He went down, he didn’t look comfortable, he was shaking his head. Pep Guardiola put his head in his hands. But he’s come off now, he’s walked off now. I think he’s literally just jarred it.
“It looked a major worry. The first thing that comes in your head when that sort of thing happens is your ACL. It looks like that’s alright. Thank God.”
Pep Guardiola will be desperate to avoid any injury setback
Football Insider Verdict
The fact that the striker was able to leave the game under his own steam will allay fears that he will be out in the long-term.
Even so, Guardiola’s side surely cannot afford for Haaland to be out of action for any time at all given the importance of their next outing.
There have already been some suggestions that Man City are all but out of the Champions League, and they will be determined to prove those wrong given how much that competition means.
After a tough period for Haaland and Man City earlier in the season, he has started to find his goalscoring touch much more regularly in recent weeks.
It would therefore be a major blow for the Premier League champions to any sort of injury just as he is coming back into form, especially at such a key stage of the season.
With that in mind, there could be a nervous wait for Guardiola and co. to see what the extent of this blow to Haaland actually is.