Pep Guardiola shares the reason he subbed Erling Haaland off against Slovan Bratislava

Manchester City News
By James Thompson
Published on 2024-10-02 12:30:00

Manchester City secured a 4-0 victory against Slovan Bratislava in their latest Champions League away match, with goals from Gundogan, Foden, Haaland, and McAtee. Pep Guardiola made a strategic decision to substitute Haaland in the 60th minute, despite him scoring City’s third goal. Guardiola cited Haaland’s recent injury and the need to manage his playing time carefully due to the hectic schedule of fixtures this season as reasons for the substitution. With Haaland being City’s main striker and having already scored 10 goals in the league this season, Guardiola wants to ensure the Norwegian remains fit and fresh for upcoming matches.

Haaland’s impressive goal-scoring record, with 101 goals in 107 games for Manchester City, has drawn praise from the likes of Paul Scholes. Guardiola’s cautious approach reflects the importance of keeping Haaland injury-free and at his best to help City secure wins in their upcoming matches, including the next game against Fulham. With the striker playing a key role in the team’s success, Guardiola’s decision to manage Haaland’s game time highlights the need to balance performance with player well-being in a demanding season.

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