Fantasy Premier League managers are facing their worst nightmare as Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola drops a major selection bombshell ahead of Sunday's title decider against Tottenham.
The Spanish tactician has strongly hinted that goal machine Erling Haaland could be among several key players set for rotation, sending FPL bosses into meltdown with just one gameweek remaining.
Guardiola's Rotation Warning
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Guardiola delivered the dreaded words every fantasy manager fears: "After playing in London against Fulham, we will see how the people recover and we will decide. Some players recover quicker than others."
This comes after City's dominant 4-0 victory over Fulham, where Haaland netted a penalty but appeared to be managing his fitness throughout the match.
The Tottenham Hoodoo That Could Cost City
Manchester City's record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium makes for grim reading. In four visits to Spurs' new ground, City have failed to score a single goal and haven't registered a single victory.
This statistical anomaly, combined with Guardiola's tendency to overthink big away games, has created the perfect storm for potential rotation.
Who Else Faces the Axe?
Guardiola's comments suggest Haaland isn't the only premium FPL asset at risk. Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva could all see reduced minutes as City prepare for their final Premier League push.
The City boss emphasised: "We have five days, we're going to travel to London and see how they recover. We have fresh legs and we're going to use them."
What This Means for the Title Race
With Arsenal breathing down their necks, City cannot afford any slip-ups. However, Guardiola appears confident that squad depth will see them through, even without his star striker from the start.
Julian Alvarez stands ready to lead the line if Haaland is rested, while Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish provide alternative attacking options out wide.
Fantasy managers now face an agonising decision: stick with the most explosive forward in FPL history, or transfer out a player who might not even start in the season's most crucial fixture?
