Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is fit again, and back ready to face Southampton on Saturday at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Pep Guardiola has confirmed.
The Norwegian missed City’s 4-1 massacre of Liverpool last weekend at the Etihad Stadium due a groin injury he sustained during the international break, but he is now back and gunning for a start tomorrow.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Guardiola said; “He trained really good in the last two days, so he will be ready.”
The Spaniard was asked why Haaland shouldn’t sit out tomorrow’s game and only wait for their quarterfinal first leg Champions League game against Bayern Munich due on Tuesday. His reply was: “Bayern Munich is the last thought, so it’s Southampton. Premier League is every day, every week and it doesn’t depend on that.”
Haaland last featured for City three weeks ago in their FA Cup quarterfinal tie against Burnley which the Citizens won 6-1. The 22-year-old scored three of those goals. Prior to that, he had netted five as Man City dispatched Leipzig 7-0 in the Champions League round of 16 return leg.
City looked just fine without Haaland against Jurgen Klopp’s team, and indeed the score is testament to that. With Haaland in the team though, they are more deadly. Not the kind of opponent Southampton would’ve fancied to face at this particular time as they are battling relegation.
Haaland is the current league top scorer with 28 goals. He will definitely look to increase that tally tomorrow, and the Saints may just be the right opposition for him to continue with his exploits.
Southampton are bottom of the Premier League table, and they have conceded 47 goals, which makes them the fifth worst defenders in the league this term.
City on the other hand are the second meanest defense in the Division, only bettered by Newcastle. And their attack is the leading with 71 goals scored. Like earlier mentioned, Haaland has 28 of those to his name..
