Pep Guardiola reveals why he benched Erling Haaland for crucial Real Madrid clash – as his side battle to stay in the Champions League
Pep Guardiola has revealed why Erling Haaland has been dropped to the bench for Manchester City’s clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday night.
Guardiola’s side travel to the Bernabeu 3-2 down on aggregate after Jude Bellingham sealed a win for Madrid in the first-leg of their Champions League playoff tie.
The Norwegian striker scored both goals for City in that match however Guardiola has opted to leave Haaland on the bench for the return leg.
Haaland was a doubt for the return leg in Madrid after being taken off in City’s 4-0 demolition over Newcastle on Saturday due to a knee injury.
Speaking on Haaland’s condition, Guardiola said: ‘Not close enough. Trained a little bit yesterday but spoke this morning and said he doesn’t feel good so we choose another one’.
The decision comes just days after Omar Marmoush – who was selected ahead of Haaland for the Madrid clash – scored a hat-trick in their win over Newcastle.
Erling Haaland has been named on the bench for Man City’s clash with Real Madrid
There was doubt as to whether the Norwegian would travel after suffering a knock last week
However earlier in the week, Guardiola eased worries on the Norwegian’s condition, revealing he will be at the Bernabeu alongside Jack Grealish, who was also a doubt to play.
‘Yes, they travelled. We will see tomorrow but it’s good news they are here obviously,’ Guardiola said.
‘Jack was able to play a really good game in the [at Leyton Orient] but after he doesn’t have the consistency to play three games a week, he was not able to do it. Hopefully, now he is able for the last few months of the season he can get it.’
City are facing the prospect of exiting before the last 16 for the first time since 2012-2013, when they were knocked out in the group stage.
Guardiola had admitted that his side’s chances of qualifying are slim, but has urged his play with no fear at the Bernabeu.
‘You have to make an almost perfect game, obviously. The result is not the perfect situation. We have to attack and score goals, this is the idea. We will have to play an almost perfect game to go through.
Haaland was forced off in Man City’s 4-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday with a knock
‘It’s the same going to Arsenal or Liverpool right now or Barcelona, the big teams qualified for the top eight, it is quite similar.
‘It will be tough going away. Especially after the result we took in the first game. [We must] play with courage. Be yourself.
‘I learned that as a young player when we didn’t get results. Play with incredible courage and play to win the game, otherwise, always you can lose but you must be yourself.
‘When we did well here it is because we played to win the game. We have no alternative because of the result in the first leg.’
