Pep Guardiola issues ‘apology’ to national team coach over handling of Erling Haaland | OneFootball

Norway manager Stale Solbakken has received a tongue-in-cheek apology from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola over his plans for Erling Haaland this season.

The City boss’ comments come amid a degree of concern over how he manages Haaland’s game-time, particularly with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon and the striker’s crucial position as the club’s go-to goalscorer.

Erling Haaland’s relentless scoring streak – 24 goals in 14 games this season – places him arguably at the very forefront of the world’s elite forwards, but Pep Guardiola is likely to become conscious of balancing club success with the player’s physical wellbeing.

City remain unbeaten in European competition this season, with Haaland recently netting a decisive goal in the 0-2 Champions League win at Villarreal, and his wider contributions have been critical to Pep Guardiola’s side – who are targeting a strong domestic campaign and progression from the Champions League’s league phase.

As for the Premier League, the English top-flight remains a tightly contested challenge, with Manchester City continuing to chase leaders Arsenal and keeping an eye on Liverpool’s performances – albeit having dropped points in a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday.

Speaking during a recent press conference, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on plans for rest and rotation when it comes to Erling Haaland, or whether the Norwegian must accept consistent demands over the course of 12 months amid a World Cup campaign for Norway next summer.

“Oh I’m so sorry for my colleague [Stale] Solbakken in the national team from Norway, but I’m not thinking about that. So, maybe at the end. When we win the Premier League for 10 points in front, 10 fixtures before, and after we’ll take a rest,” Guardiola admitted.

The 54-year-old continued, “But now he feels fit, he feels fine. And of course there are games like it’s already, you know, solved, or he looks tired, of course he’s not going to play.

“But we are in a position right now in the Champions League, it’s massively important and the games we have played so far and the next two games at home, they will give us the real, real, real chance to finish in the first eight.

“And in the Premier League, I don’t have the feeling now that Arsenal’s going to drop much points.”

Guardiola continued by also making a significant admission surrounding the Premier League title race, and his belief that Arne Slot’s reigning champions remain a serious contender for the crown despite their recent blip in form.

“I have the feeling Arsenal and in Liverpool as well; even now, Liverpool lost the last games, not in the Champions League in Frankfurt. But I saw the game against [Manchester] United, they had been incredible chances to win the game,” said the City boss.

“So I think Liverpool remains… the main favourites. And the distance, three or four points at that stage is nothing. Always I had the feeling that both teams and maybe other ones, they will lose few, few points. That’s why we have to be there.”

Looking ahead, Erling Haaland will continue as Manchester City’s focal point in attack, though Pep Guardiola may implement careful monitoring in select games to mitigate injury risk, such as this week’s Carabao Cup fourth round tie away to Swansea City.

With Norway’s World Cup preparations looming, the balance between club and country will remain a talking point, particularly given Haaland’s historic scoring pace. Guardiola’s light-hearted apology suggests an awareness of the debate, but also an unflinching commitment to starting his star performer in attack.

Manchester City fans can expect Erling Haaland to feature prominently in both domestic and European fixtures, while Pep Guardiola’s nuanced rotation approach may become a defining theme as the campaign progresses.