Erling Haaland was absent when Manchester City secured an FA Cup victory over Newcastle United on Saturday night, but manager Pep Guardiola has moved to calm concerns over the striker’s fitness ahead of a crucial European encounter with Real Madrid.
City’s leading goalscorer did not travel with the squad to St James’ Park, having also sat out the Premier League triumph against Leeds United the previous weekend.
Although the Norwegian forward returned briefly during the midweek win against Nottingham Forest, Guardiola opted against involving him again in the FA Cup fixture.
The City boss suggested the decision was part of a longer-term plan to carefully manage Haaland’s workload during an intense run of fixtures.
The Sky Blues face a demanding schedule that includes a UEFA Champions League trip to Madrid on Wednesday as well as a domestic final later this month.
Guardiola indicated that resting the striker now could help ensure he remains fully fit during the decisive period of the campaign.
With several major competitions still at stake, City appear determined to avoid taking unnecessary risks with one of their most important players.
Guardiola stressed the striker was never expected to play in the FA Cup match.
“I was not planning to play him,” Guardiola said. “I would prefer [him to have] good training sessions than to travel and play just 10-15 minutes.”
The explanation suggests the decision was more precautionary than medical. Guardiola has frequently emphasised the importance of keeping players fresh across a season that stretches across multiple competitions.
For City, the coming weeks could define their campaign, and the manager appears keen to ensure Haaland remains available for the most significant matches.
City’s fixture list also includes the upcoming Carabao Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium later this month. With silverware on the line in multiple competitions, careful squad management could prove decisive.
While Haaland’s absence appears precautionary, City are still managing longer-term injury concerns elsewhere in the squad.
Midfielder Mateo Kovacic has endured a difficult season due to an ankle problem that required a second surgical procedure.
The Croatian has featured only sparingly this campaign after the issue first emerged toward the end of the previous term. His recovery process has taken time, but Guardiola confirmed the midfielder has recently returned to training.
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“Finally he’s back training for the last three or four training sessions,” said Guardiola this week.
“Still, his condition needs time. But the most important after second surgery in his ankle is much better than the first one. Maybe he can give us good quality until the end of the season.”
Kovacic’s gradual return could provide an important boost for City as the season approaches its decisive phase.
Known for his composure on the ball and ability to control the tempo of midfield play, the Croatian offers valuable depth in a squad that will likely face a demanding series of matches across several competitions.
However, Guardiola made it clear the club will not rush the midfielder back into action. Following two operations on the same ankle, patience appears to be the priority as City aim to avoid setbacks.
