Subbed off: Erling HaalandStr
While the scores were still level, Haaland asked to be replaced during Norway’s 2-1 Nations League defeat by Portugal on Sunday.
The striker gestured towards the bench in the second half and was replaced by Jorgen Strand Larsen after 67 minutes, appearing to limp as he left the pitch. Haaland joined his team-mates on the substitutes’ bench, rather than head down the tunnel for assessment, but his condition will now be assessed by Man City medical staff ahead of their contentious return to Premier League action.
Solbakken played down fears of a serious injury, explaining after the game that Haaland’s withdrawal had been discussed in advance after a demanding run of matches.
“Well, it wasn’t just with him; I spoke with about five or six players who have played a lot of minutes,” he told reporters.
“It’s important that they feel I’m listening to them, and we agreed that he would keep going until he felt he couldn’t contribute anymore. We were talking about the 60-minute mark or thereabouts.”
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Solbakken added that Strand Larsen had been prepared for the possibility of an early introduction.
He added: “Jorgen [who replaced Haaland] knew this, so he was warming up – or rather, warming up extremely aggressively, so to speak – to avoid that stiff, cold feeling you get if you’re suddenly thrown into the game.
“I think [Haaland] ended up playing 65 minutes or something like that. But of course, I thought he played a very, very good match in the build-up phase. He terrorised their centre-backs, which allowed us to sustain longer spells of possession in the first half because both centre-backs were occupied.”
The timing will nevertheless concern City, with the forward now facing uncertainty over whether he will be fit for their first Premier League fixture since being found guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between 2009 and 2018.