In the 26th round of the Premier League, Manchester City convincingly defeated Fulham 3-0 at home. The City team decided the fate of the match in the first half, the team outplayed the opponent both in attack and in the middle of the field. Erling Haaland, who scored one goal in this match, made the fans think a little when he was substituted at half-time.
After the match, head coach Pep Guardiola explained why this decision was made. According to him, the Norwegian goal scorer felt a little unwell.
“There was a little problem with his health. He felt unwell. The reason for this is that there were too many games. "I didn't consult the doctors, I don't know exactly what happened. He said he felt unwell and when the score was 3-0, with Omar Marmoush and the games ahead, it was a logical decision," Guardiola told the club's official website.
In other words, the coach is sending a signal that "there is no need to worry": it is not a serious injury, but rather a simple inconvenience caused by the workload and the tight schedule. In such a situation, Guardiola, as usual, preferred to protect his player, not taking risks. Especially when the score is high and there are several important matches ahead, it is the most correct logic to protect the "number one".
Haaland's figures this season once again prove how important he is for City. In the Premier League, the 25-year-old striker has scored 22 goals and provided 6 assists in 26 games. He has also been very effective in the Champions League: he has scored 7 goals in 8 matches.
In short, the main message for City fans is this: Haaland is one of the “engines” on the pitch, so any inconvenience he may face is taken seriously. But judging by Guardiola’s words, this decision is more of a preventive measure and a calculation in line with the calendar - a strategy of “we won now, we will win later”.
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