Erling Haaland was excluded from the Manchester City squad for the final Premier League match against Aston Villa. Outgoing manager Pep Guardiola explained the reasons for the Norwegian striker's absence ahead of the farewell match with the fans. This is reported by Goal.com .
For Manchester City, who drew with Bournemouth in midweek and lost ground to Arsenal in the title race, this match had lost its significance in terms of the league table. Therefore, the Catalan coach focused on creating a celebratory atmosphere and giving players a rest. Guardiola made a total of nine changes to the lineup.
"This squad is a mix of players who haven't played for a long time. We want to see players like Bernardo Silva and John Stones off with applause from the fans. If this game were a final deciding the fate of the title, the lineup would look completely different," the coach said in his pre-match interview.
Beyond the emotional aspects, there are practical reasons for Erling Haaland's absence. After a grueling season, the striker is expected to join the Norway national team for World Cup qualifiers. The coaching staff decided to give him a rest to preserve his physical condition.
Although he missed the final round, Erling Haaland has all but secured the Premier League Golden Boot. He has scored 27 goals this season, leading his closest challenger, Brentford striker Igor Thiago, by 5 goals.
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