Solbakken outlines Erling Haaland workload strategy | OneFootball

Norway head coach Stale Solbakken travelled to England to meet new Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca to discuss Erling Haaland’s workload, after the striker spoke about mental fatigue following the World Cup. According to Goal.com, the pair aligned on strategic rest during domestic League Cup windows to sustain performance across a long season.

After naming his squad for four upcoming UEFA Nations League games, Solbakken said Haaland looks sharp now but a structured break will be essential later in the campaign, with November to January earmarked.

Haaland said on his YouTube channel that starting a new season without pre-season after the World Cup was mentally challenging. He had just over four weeks of holiday before returning to Manchester on 11 August.

The 26-year-old added that the physical side should come if he stays injury-free, but mental sharpness also matters and extra recovery weeks would have helped. He expressed gratitude for playing at the highest level.

Solbakken said it is highly doubtful Haaland will complete 90 minutes in all four matches, with minutes to be managed according to context and load. He underlined the need for close cooperation between club and country to protect the forward’s wellbeing. He added that the break should not come immediately.

Source: Goal.com

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