Haaland Injury: Manchester City Boss Optimistic Ahead of Burnley Clash
Manchester City director Pep Guardiola has expressed conservative sanguinity over Erling Haaland’s fitness ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against Burnley.
Haaland was withdrawn during City’s weekend draw at Arsenal, having reportedly suffered from back discomfort. Despite this, Guardiola remains upbeat about his striker’s chances of featuring against the Clarets.
“Recovery yesterday, he didn’t train. Today I didn’t see him and the rest of the players yet. But hopefully he can be [fit] for the next weekend,” the City boss said.
He added: “It’s been a so, so demanding week, the last game especially, and sometimes the players have problems. But I think he will be fine next weekend, I hope so.”
The clash at the Emirates Stadium saw Arsenal dominate, eventually snatching a late equaliser after Haaland had put City ahead with an early thing.
It was a symptomatic caching from Guardiola’s side, who have plodded with thickness this season.
City presently sits ninth in the Premier League table, eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool. Nonetheless, Guardiola claimed his side is perfecting, noting progress from last season’s difficulties.
: Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Erling Haaland wasn’t in training and was recovering from a back issue yesterday. ️‼️
Pep: “Hopefully he’s ready for next weekend.”
via @ManCity pic.twitter.com/SZhplget0s
— City HQ (@City_HQs) September 23, 2025
“I’m really proud of this fight,” he said. “We recover many, many things that last season we were missing. We have an incredible spirit.
Of course, we cannot sustain for the whole season to play in the way we played. We don’t want it, but I give credit to the opponents. Arsenal most of the games, can do that to the other opponents.
I want to learn to celebrate when we draw. I ask one thing since I started my managerial career is to give everything on the pitch. And last season, we didn’t do it in some moments of the season.
This season, especially since the win over Manchester United, we have started to recover many things that have defined our team for many, many years.
I cannot care less about the fact that we can do better, we’ll do it. We could make better decisions – we’ll do it. We have to play a little bit more with the ball – we will do it, but first comes the spirit that we have shown this week.
“You have to take care of these kinds of things like a father, a mother takes care of his sons. The team will grow up.”
City’s hectic schedule continues with a midweek trip to Huddersfield in the Carabao Cup third round. Guardiola faces further selection headaches, with Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Omar Marmoush sidelined, while Abdukodir Khusanov was forced off at half-time against Arsenal.
Fans will be closely watching Haaland’s condition, as the Norwegian forward remains crucial to City’s title ambitions.
