Erling Haaland insists he’s ready for another grueling season with Manchester City… but warns exhaustion will lead to a drop in quality in football
- Erling Haaland insists he is ready for a 70-game season for Manchester City
- Haaland believes the lavish football schedule played a role in the quality of the European Championship
- The Norwegian had the summer off and is ready to fire again for Pep Guardiola
Erling Haaland has indicated he is ready to play a 70-game season for Manchester City but warned that a general lack of quality at the European Championship will become the norm.
The striker, who scored 90 goals in 98 games for City in two years, believes the busy fixture schedule played a key role in the European Championship.
And a number of European clubs, including the Premier League champions, are gearing up for a revamped Club World Cup in America next June – just weeks after the season ends.
“During the European Championships we saw in general how tired people were,” Haaland said. “You saw the level… even on people’s faces how tired they were from football, if you can say it like that.
“I think it’s going to be like that this season. Some people don’t get much vacation. I think we’re going to continue like this now.
Erling Haaland insisted he is ready to play a 70-game season for Manchester City
Jack Grealish and Haaland pose during a training session in Central Park in New York City
“I don’t think we can be sharp in every game. We can try, but it’s hard to be sharp when you play 70 games a year. You have to try to work with your team and the people around you to become the best version of yourself.”
His manager, Pep Guardiola, claimed Haaland should be fresh enough after a long summer break as Norway failed to qualify for the European Championship.
The 24-year-old believes he has now overcome the ongoing fitness issues he suffered last season, when an ankle injury kept him out of action for two months over New Year’s Eve.
“I’ve had my longest break since 2014,” Haaland added.
“My body is rested and I’m ready to go. It felt great. I needed it, I was pretty tired. It’s going to be a long season this year too. It will be that way as long as I can think.”
When those comments were put to Guardiola, he said: ‘Erling has already rested. (If) he is tired, go to bed early. Concentrate for 24 hours and you will be ready. Tiredness is not an excuse. I encourage him to be more focused.’