- Erling Haaland did not participate in Manchester City's 3-1 loss to Real Madrid, who eliminated them from the competition.
- The winner of the Premier League Golden Boot was an unused substitute in a crucial match in Madrid
- Haaland and Manchester City will shift their attention to the league and FA Cup, as their season continues to deteriorate.
Erling Haaland was not used as a substitute in Manchester City's 3-1 loss to Real Madrid, which resulted in their elimination from the Champions League.
The Norwegian was expected to play a crucial role since his team were seeking an extraordinary comeback to salvage their European campaign.
Pep Guardiola revealed the reason behind his top player's decision to sit out the crucial match.
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Haaland scored both of Man City's goals in their 3-2 first-leg loss, but seemed to be struggling with an injury in their 4-0 win over Newcastle United.
He was a surprising exclusion from the starting lineup at the Santiago Bernabeu, but it wasn't crucial as the Premier League team's comeback was thwarted after four minutes.
Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick within the span of an hour, effectively confirming Manchester City's exit from the competition.
Omar Marmoush began in his starting position following his impressive hat-trick against Newcastle but was unable to repeat that level of performance against the European champions.
"Erling tried to train on Tuesday following the last match against Newcastle. The images we have suggest he's fine, but he experienced discomfort, such as when walking up the stairs," Guardiola stated to 90min.
He told us that he wasn't prepared, and he didn't feel well.
Haaland and Manchester City will need to focus on securing a top-four finish and target the FA Cup title.
Man City's 2024/24 season
Pep Guardiola's team were viewed as top contenders to win the Premier League this season and possibly advance to the Champions League final.
However, after Rodri's ACL injury in September, things took a turn for the worse. They won only once between October and the end of December, and their January signings have yet to make a significant impact.
They are currently 17 points adrift from Premier League leaders Liverpool, but are still strong contenders to secure a spot within the top four for Champions League qualification.
"Premier League titles are not forever," Guardiola said via Sky Sports. "Nothing lasts, but we can't deny what this group of players has achieved, winning six Premier League titles in seven seasons and reaching the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final in this competition.
Manchester City have won the last four Premier League titles and it appears their grip on the league is beginning to loosen.
Mbappe destroys Gvardiol
Earlier reported that Kylian Mbappe fooled Man City defender Josko Gvardiol to score his second goal against the English side.
Mbappe took down the Croatian player and then teased him when celebrating the goal.