Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has explained the absence of Erling Haaland and Phil Foden from the starting XI against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden celebrate a Manchester City goal
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden miss Manchester City's clash with Wolves(Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
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Erling Haaland and Phil Foden are not in Manchester City's starting lineup against Wolverhampton Wanderers with Pep Guardiola leaving two key players out for the Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium
Foden and Haaland are the conspicuous omissions from Guardiola's team sheet for Wolves' visit to the Etihad Stadium. Both featured from the start in the 3-1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League, with Haaland completing the full 90 minutes.
Guardiola's sole change in that loss was withdrawing Foden for Omar Marmoush after 70 minutes. The City boss acknowledged before the fixture: "He maintains, a little bit, broken his bones, but he has protection, and he is fine."
City have made six changes in all for Wolves, with Marc Guehi making his first start since joining City from Crystal Palace earlier this month. Foden and Haaland are joind by Rico Lewis, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Max Alleyne on the bench.
Guehi, Matheus Nunes, captain Bernardo Silva, Omar Marmoush, and Antoine Semenyo are all starting.
"Maybe not [surprised to see Foden dropped], but definitely Haaland," reacted Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison.
"I don't care if he has scored one goal in eight games, he's the best striker in the Premier League and I know when you are creating chances he will put the ball in the back of the net.
"I'm not saying he has one eye on Galatasaray, because this is a massive game and they need to respond and they need a win.
"It gives other players an opportunity. He's on the bench, so if things don't work out..."
Foden was substituted at the interval during the Manchester derby at Old Trafford last weekend following an awkward fall that fractured his hand. Haaland, however, was also ready in midweek after Guardiola declared last Monday: "He said to me he slept unbelievably, so he is fit."
City's manager also discussed whether the Premier League's top 2025/26 goalscorer can sustain his earlier seasonal form having scored just once in his last eight appearances in all competitions.
He commented: "It depends on his mind, and his fire, it will dictate it. As much as he's not injured, he can play, yeah."