Guardiola Reacts to Carragher’s Haaland Comments Over Fitness

Manchester, England – Pep Guardiola expressed disbelief over Jamie Carragher‘s suggestion that Erling Haaland deliberately avoided a match against Antonio Rüdiger due to intimidation. Haaland did not participate in Manchester City’s recent Champions League clash against Real Madrid, citing a knee injury.

Haaland was an unused substitute during the 6-3 aggregate defeat in Madrid after informing Guardiola he was unfit to play. The Norway international reportedly sustained the injury in a previous match against Newcastle.

During coverage on CBS, Carragher jokingly theorized that Haaland’s absence could be attributed to what he termed “Rüdiger-itis,” implying that the striker might have been afraid to face the Real Madrid defender again. When Guardiola was made aware of Carragher’s comments, he reacted with a long pause, stating, “Oh, God. Did he say that? It’s not nice – and it’s not true. He was crazy to play the game.”

Guardiola then commented on the significant number of injuries affecting his squad, especially with defenders sidelined for approximately three months. “We go into the game against Liverpool with doubts about Haaland’s fitness, but we have to keep fighting for a top-four finish,” he said.

When asked by journalists if finishing in the top four would be a commendable feat given the current circumstances, Guardiola replied, “Unbelievable. Wow. It would be a big achievement. But we have three months left to qualify for the Champions League next season.”

Haaland’s knee injury remains a concern as City prepares for their League clash against Liverpool. His fitness will be assessed before the match, which is crucial for City as they trail Liverpool by 17 points in the league standings.

Carragher’s light-hearted remarks drew criticism from former City player Micah Richards, who countered, “Come on Jamie, you’re better than that.” Carragher later clarified on social media that his comments were intended as a joke, emphasizing the show’s lighthearted nature.

Despite the off-field drama, City remains focused on domestic competitions, aiming to secure a top position in the league and a place in next season’s Champions League.