Ankle Injury: Haaland Out for Up to Seven Weeks

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland will be sidelined for an estimated duration of up to seven weeks due to the ankle injury he sustained during the FA Cup quarter-final victory over Bournemouth. This update comes directly from the club manager, Pep Guardiola, who provided insights following Sunday’s match in which Haaland made a significant impact before his early departure.

During the match, held at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium, Haaland was substituted in the 61st minute after netting a crucial equalizer. His contribution proved instrumental, as Manchester City went on to secure a 2-1 victory, thereby advancing to the semi-finals of the prestigious FA Cup. Following the match, footage circulated on social media showing the 24-year-old leaving the stadium on crutches, with a protective boot encasing his injured left ankle, raising concerns about his fitness for the remainder of the season.

Guardiola mentioned that medical staff informed him of an anticipated recovery window of five to seven weeks. “They told me the doctors say between five to seven weeks,” Guardiola relayed, expressing hope that Haaland would manage to return before the end of the season and be available for selection in the upcoming Club World Cup. “Sometimes there are years when these kinds of things happen. It happened all season,” the manager lamented, reflecting on the injury woes that have plagued the team.

The club has announced that Haaland will consult with a specialist regarding the injury, with optimistic projections suggesting he will be fit enough to participate in the remainder of the season, which includes this summer’s highly anticipated FIFA Club World Cup. In the FA Cup match, despite Haaland’s missed penalty and two considerable missed chances, he successfully converted a cross from teammate Nico O’Reilly to level the match before Omar Marmoush netted the decisive goal for City.

Currently, the FA Cup represents Manchester City’s sole opportunity to claim silverware this season, particularly in light of their challenging journey in the Premier League, where they sit fifth, trailing Chelsea by one point in the pivotal race for a Champions League qualification. Furthermore, the team has experienced early exits from both the Champions League and the Carabao Cup, heightening the stakes for the FA Cup run.

If Haaland’s recovery extends to five weeks, he would miss a total of six matches, including the crucial FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest scheduled for April 26. Targeting a return for the Premier League clash against Southampton on May 10, Haaland’s timeline is pressing. Should his absence extend to seven weeks, it would cast doubt on his availability for the FA Cup final, should City succeed against Forest — a potential showdown set for May 17.

Furthermore, Haaland aims to rejoin the squad for the final league match of the season, set for May 25 against Fulham, before the Club World Cup takes place in June and July. In light of these events, Manchester City’s Premier League fixture against Aston Villa has been postponed, necessitating a rescheduling due to their involvement in the FA Cup semi-final. Thus, the club and its supporters will be eagerly watching Haaland’s recovery as they navigate through this challenging phase of the season.