Pep Guardiola insists he will unleash Erling Haaland on Bayern Munich on Saturday.
The Manchester City boss admitted that the champions’ new £51million striker has been carrying some fitness problems since arriving at the Etihad and he was left out of Wednesday night’s 2-1 victory over Club America in Texas. But Guardiola dispelled fears that Haaland’s injuries are serious - and promised to play him against the Bundesliga champions in Green Bay.
Guardiola said: “Next game, Erling will be ready. He’s had niggles and a few problems. We’ll see. He’s trained just two sessions and didn’t want to take risks. The season is so long.”
More than 61,000 fans inside the NRG Stadium were left disappointed when Haaland failed to make an appearance on his 22nd birthday. The Norwegian took his place on the bench in a hoodie - and was cheered every time his face was beamed onto the two giant screens.
But City still lifted the Copa de Lone Star by beating the Mexicans 2-1 thanks to two brilliant Kevin De Bruyne strikes. Haaland missed 16 games in all competitions for Borussia Dortmund last season.
And Dortmund coach Marco Rose admitted that he was often forced to play through the pain barrier. Haaland still scored 29 goals in 30 appearances. Guardiola also admitted that he will not put pressure on his Etihad bosses to meet Brighton ’s £50million valuation of left-back Marc Cucurella.
City are ready to pay £30million for the Spaniard, but teenager Josh Wilson-Ebrand was outstanding against Club America and Guardiola warned that he has other options to fill the void left by Aleks Zinchenko’s departure and Benjamin Mendy’s ongoing legal problems.
Guardiola said: “The club decide what they have to do - and I follow the club. The club decides the signings. We miss an important player in the locker room with Aleks, really really important. We are trying but it doesn't mean it's going to happen.
"If it doesn't happen we have alternatives with Joao Cancello. Josh is a young young talent and Nathan Ake can play there. We will see what happens. We cannot forget Josh. Unfortunately the last two seasons with injuries.
"He needs time, but the quality he has with the ball and the aggression means he has the potential to be with us. We have to be calm because when one young player has many injuries over the last two seasons it's always in his mind. Step by step, he can do it.”
