Erling Haaland scored for Norway in their 2-1 Nations League defeat to Portugal on Sunday, after being withdrawn from media duties by manager Stale Solbakken. The striker was due to speak to the media over the weekend but was stood down following reports of Manchester City being found guilty of breaches of Premier League financial rules.
Haaland on the scoresheet
Despite the off-field distraction, Haaland was named in the starting lineup for the clash against Portugal. He found the net with a rebound after an initial free-kick was parried by Diogo Costa, levelling matters following Joao Felix's opener. However, Goncalo Ramos struck a winner just three minutes later to seal a 2-1 victory for Portugal.
The goal was Haaland's third in two Nations League games for Norway during the international break. The 26-year-old's performance showed he has not been impacted by the controversy surrounding his club.
Solbakken's decision explained
Solbakken's approach proved successful in one regard, as he remained determined to keep his star player focused on football rather than the controversy engulfing City's guilty verdict. The Norway manager observed that former City midfielder Rodri's press conference, conducted while preparing to face England with Spain, had been entirely dominated by queries regarding the verdict and possible sanctions.
Solbakken stated: "We naturally want him to focus and have the best possible conditions to prepare. As everyone knows, there have been external discussions in the past day, but that has nothing to do with the UEFA Nations League or what we'll do next. Rodri's press conference yesterday is a perfect example; it wasn't about the UEFA Nations League either."
Focus on football
"So I think Haaland should focus on his task now. His task is to score for Norway, and I think everyone agrees that's what matters most," Solbakken added. "That certainly needs to be considered (media access to Haaland). Making this decision now doesn't mean he won't attend future press conferences. It's just that right now, we've decided to arrange it this way."
Solbakken also expressed confidence in Haaland's ability to handle the noise surrounding his club while on international duty, saying: "I think he can handle it well."
