Norway manager confirms Erling Haaland to be handed “special treatment” during international break | OneFootball

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has been handed “special treatment” by his international head coach Stale Solbakken, it has been confirmed.

Despite City’s Carabao Cup success over Arsenal on Sunday, Erling Haaland has endured a uncharacteristic dip in his usually prolific output throughout February and March 2026, occasionally leaving him isolated against low-block defences and leading to a stretch where his expected goals (xG) conversion rate dipped below his elite career average.

The blistering form fans have come to expect was hampered by a foot niggle that saw him managed carefully during the congested spring schedule, allowing for the likes of Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo to take on more central opportunities.

While he provided a vital distraction that allowed Nico O’Reilly to ghost in for his Wembley brace against Arsenal in the League Cup final, Haaland himself has found the net just twice in his last 10 appearances across all competitions.

Why Haaland is being given ‘special treatment’ by Norway

But speaking ahead of Norway’s two international friendlies during the final weeks of March against the Netherlands and Switzerland, manager Stale Solbakken has confirmed Erling Haaland will be granted additional time-off from football activities.

“We have to take into account the overall load Erling [Haaland] has been under for a long, long time, and based on that we have concluded that the best solution for all parties is for him to get a necessary break now,” Solbakken confirmed.

He continued, as per TV2, “Our conclusion is that it’s best if Erling participates in at most one of the matches during this international break, and we think it would be nice if he perhaps gets to show himself in front of the Ullevaal crowd against Switzerland.

“It is special treatment. Precisely because of what Erling has been through both on and off the pitch. There is a huge amount of pressure on him, and for me it is by far most important that he delivers at the World Cup in June.”

What comes next for Haaland and Man City?

Once the international break concludes, Erling Haaland will return to a Manchester City side entering the most high-stakes month of the 2025/26 season, with his first major objective being the FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, April 4 (12:45 BST).

Having already secured the Carabao Cup trophy, Haaland will no doubt be central to Pep Guardiola’s pursuit of a domestic cup double, especially as he looks to re-establish his dominance against a Liverpool defence he has already scored against twice this campaign.

Beyond the FA Cup, the ultimate prize is the Premier League and a potential title decider against Arsenal on Sunday, April 19. With the Gunners currently holding a nine-point lead, the fixture is a must-win for Haaland to reignite City’s quest for the top-flight crown.

Sandwiched in between is an away trip to Chelsea on April 12, meaning the Norwegian will have no time for a slow restart, expected to lead the line in three season-defining matches that will determine whether his fourth year in Manchester ends with a solitary trophy or a haul.