Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided a concerning update on star striker Erling Haaland's fitness, casting significant doubt over his participation in the upcoming FA Cup fourth-round clash against Salford City. The Norwegian forward was substituted at half-time during midweek's Premier League victory over Fulham, a match in which he scored his first goal from open play since the Christmas period.
Haaland's Fitness Concerns Emerge
Guardiola revealed that Haaland is currently "not 100 percent" fit, explaining that the player had experienced "niggles" during the Fulham encounter that prompted his early withdrawal. While the Catalan coach initially speculated this might simply be fatigue, the situation now appears more pressing as City face a crucial cup fixture.
"Erling is not 100 percent," Guardiola stated during his pre-match press conference. "We will see today how he feels. It is not a big issue the doctor said to me but he had some disturbance during the game and that's why he didn't play in the second half. We will see today if he will be involved tomorrow."
Stones Set for Return as Squad Battles Fatigue
In more positive news for City supporters, Guardiola indicated that defender John Stones is poised to make his long-awaited return to action. The England international was included in the matchday squad against Fulham for the first time in two months, marking a significant step in his recovery from injury.
"He has already made two or three training sessions and we will see tomorrow if he plays or how many minutes he plays," Guardiola added regarding Stones' potential involvement.
Exhausted Squad Eyes Rare Break
With Manchester City still competing on four fronts for silverware this season, Guardiola openly admitted his squad is feeling the strain of their demanding fixture schedule. The manager expressed hope that his players could secure victory against Salford before enjoying an increasingly rare week-long break from competitive action.
"Our priority is beating Salford and going to the next round," Guardiola emphasized. "In this competition over the last years reaching finals, finals and finals. Unfortunately we could not win the last two finals but being there is always a success. I always think about that."
The Spanish tactician continued: "Hopefully, before this long week that we need, because we are so, so exhausted physically and mentally from this incredible amount of games in many months - we can have a little break after the game tomorrow."
Fixture Pile-Up Takes Its Toll
Guardiola's comments highlight the immense physical and mental demands placed on elite footballers in modern football, particularly at clubs like Manchester City that compete across multiple competitions simultaneously. The potential absence of Haaland, who has scored 24 goals across all competitions this season, would represent a significant blow to City's FA Cup aspirations as they seek to advance past League Two opponents Salford City.
The situation creates a delicate balancing act for Guardiola, who must weigh the importance of progressing in the FA Cup against protecting his key players' long-term fitness during a grueling campaign that could yet see City challenge for the Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup alongside their FA Cup ambitions.
