Manchester City striker Erling Haaland was withdrawn before the second half of their win over Fulham because of a “niggle”, Pep Guardiola revealed following their 3-0 victory.
City’s talisman was substituted by Guardiola following the interval, the Norwegian having made it 3-0 with a superb finish from the edge of the area after Antoine Semenyo and Nico O’Reilly had put the hosts in command at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola’s men now trail Premier League leaders Arsenal by just three points in the title race ahead of the Gunners’ game with Brentford on Thursday.
City’s next Premier League game is in 10 days, when they host Newcastle United. They face Salford City in the FA Cup fourth round this weekend, but Haaland appears unlikely to be in the squad for that game after Guardiola confirmed he was substituted for Omar Marmoush to protect him against a more severe injury.
“He [Haaland] had a niggle,” Guardiola told TNT Sports. “Never doubt about the top scorers. The season is so long.”
Elaborating in his post-match press conference, Guardiola said: “I didn’t speak with the doctors. I don’t know exactly what he has. It’s just a disturbance, fatigue, or something – I don’t know.
“He said, ‘I don’t feel comfortable’, at 3-0, with a lot of games he’s had, having Omar [Marmoush], so out! Common sense, right?”
Haaland scored a decisive penalty in a dramatic 2-1 win at Liverpool last Sunday in which the two teams played 103 minutes, and Guardiola was impressed with the way City avoided a letdown following their exertions at Anfield.
“It was not easy after incredible emotions when you play an emotional game like Liverpool,” said Guardiola to TNT.
“It was a really, really good performance. So happy with the guys.
“The team in certain moments is growing, people are coming back. It is really, really important.”
Guardiola, though, had a dismissive response to talk of them gaining ground on Arsenal.
“It’s not three points [the gap at the top],” he stressed. “After the game tomorrow, we’ll see how many points.”
Manchester City’s new signings having huge impact
Semenyo got the ball rolling for City against Fulham by poking home from point-blank range in the 24th minute.
That marked his sixth goal against the Cottagers in his Premier League career, with Fulham rarely looking like avoiding a 20th consecutive defeat to City thereafter.
He then laid on for the assist for O’Reilly, the Ghana international continuing his red-hot form since joining from Bournemouth in January.
Semenyo has six goals and two assists in seven games for City. At the other end, City have now kept two clean sheets in the four games in which their other January signing, Marc Guehi, has featured following his move from Crystal Palace.
“A lot of goals. He has a sense of the second balls in the box, but not just that the pace and intensity – he is a top, top player,” Guardiola added of Semenyo.
“With him and Marc Guehi the club make incredible signings.”
