Why didn't Pep field Haaland against Leeds?

In the early hours of March 1st, Manchester City faced Leeds United in the 28th round of the Premier League without Erling Haaland.

Haaland suffered an injury at a crucial point in the season.

Haaland wasn't even on the substitutes list, forcing manager Pep Guardiola to confirm the information about Haaland before kick-off.

"Two days ago, in the final minutes of training, Haaland suffered a minor injury. It's not serious, but he's not ready for this match," he said.

This is a significant loss for Man City, especially as they are fiercely competing at the top of the table. This season, Haaland has maintained an impressive goal-scoring record, with 39 goals in 36 appearances for both club and national team.

However, the 23-year-old striker's recent form has not been as explosive as it was at the beginning of the season. He has only scored one goal in his last eight appearances.

Following the defeat against Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League, Haaland admitted that the demanding schedule was affecting his physical condition. "We play at a crazy pace. I always try my best and prepare for the next game," he shared.

Guardiola also spoke about this issue last week. He argued that Haaland's constant challenges, tight marking, and high-intensity performance—playing a match every three days—are unsustainable in the long run. According to the Spanish strategist, Man City needs more attacking options to ease the burden on their main striker.

With Haaland absent, Guardiola gave Rayan Cherki a starting opportunity and relegated Jeremy Doku to the bench. The Manchester City manager insisted Haaland's injury was not serious, but his return date remains uncertain.

Without their main striker, Man City secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory away at Leeds United, continuing to chase Arsenal in the Premier League table, trailing by just two points.

Source: https://znews.vn/vi-sao-pep-khong-de-haaland-ra-san-truc-leeds-post1631241.html