Erling Haaland Nottingham Forest fans

Nottingham Forest fans all say the same thing after Erling Haaland bombshell

Jonathan Burnett
Jonathan Burnett

Erling Haaland’s almost certain absence from Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final has sent Nottingham Forest fans into raptures.

Forest face City at Wembley in the last weekend of April with potentially as little as 90 minutes between themselves and a first final since 1991, with an eye on a first FA Cup title since all the way back in 1959.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side squeezed past Brighton on penalties in the last eight, winning 4-3 after a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes, and City came back from 1-0 down to beat Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

As well as coming up against Pep Guardiola’s side in four weeks’ time, Forest are also locked in an eight-team sprint with City for a Champions League spot, with just 10 points separating places three to 10.

While Forest currently have a five-point cushion to fourth-placed Chelsea, City in fifth are just four points ahead of Bournemouth in tenth, making the battle for five Champions League places still wide open.

City, however, have just received arguably their biggest blow of an injury-hit season, giving a huge boost to Forest ahead of their semi-final, and to the six teams around them in the Champions League contest.

Nuno Espirito Santo smiling in nottingham forest coat
Credit: Imago

Erling Haaland absence confirmed ahead of Forest clash

Although Haaland’s equaliser early in the second half on Sunday – set up by the excellent Nico O’Reilly – got City back on terms against Bournemouth after he’d seen a first-half penalty saved, it came at a cost.

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Haaland left the Vitality Stadium with his left foot in a protective boot, and City have since confirmed via their club website (31 March) that the Norwegian: “will now seek specialist consultation to confirm the full extent of the injury.”

PlayerClubAppearancesGoals
Mohamed SalahLiverpool2927
Erling HaalandMan City2821
Alexander IsakNewcastle2519
Chris WoodNottingham Forest2918
Bryan MbeumoBrentford2915
Haaland leads Forest’s Chris Wood in the Premier League Golden Boot race

City are yet to confirm the period of time Haaland will miss, but also stated: “The expectation is that Erling will be fit in time to play a further part in the remainder of this season, including this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.”

The 24-year-old’s likely return date at the end of the season and leading into the Club World Cup – which begins after the season ends – means he’s all-but certain to miss their FA Cup semi-final, and Forest fans have reacted with glee.

Man City striker Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland has scored 30 goals in 40 appearances for Man City this season (Credit Imago)

Nottingham Forest fans react to ‘great’ Haaland update

While Forest fans wouldn’t wish injury on a player – particularly one whose father Alf-Inge played 90 times for them between 1993 and 1997 – there’s no doubt that Haaland being missing is a massive plus.

Reds fans saw Haaland’s expected absence as a “win-win” for Nuno’s side, both ahead of this month’s semi-final and their now “great” chances of securing Champions League football ahead of Man City.

While Forest are also set to miss Chris Wood in the next weeks after an injury picked up on New Zealand duty, facing City without Haaland is a much better prospect than the Norwegian being fit and firing.

Some supporters initially didn’t think that Haaland’s protective boot would amount to a long-term injury, while another joked that their “voodoo doll” made of the striker worked to directly boost Forest’s hopes.

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