Haaland health concern raised by Guardiola after Man City Dortmund tie

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola revealed that he substituted Erling Haaland off against Borussia Dortmund at half-time because he had a ‘fever’. The match finished 0-0, the ideal result for both sides given that a point saw them finish first and second in Group G.

With both sides needing just a point to ensure that they progressed into the knockouts, the stalemate draw between City and Dortmund certainly was one for neutrals to avoid. Despite the electric atmosphere at the Signal Iduna Park, both teams lacked a spark.

Pep Guardiola’s City will feel somewhat aggrieved not to have secured victory against the Bundesliga outfit, with Riyad Mahrez missing a penalty in the second half after he was clumsily brought down by Emre Can. The Algerian has struggled from the spot this season, with many feeling that there may have been a different outcome if it was Haaland stepping up against his former club.

The Norwegian was replaced by Bernardo Silva at half-time, with Joao Cancela also being substituted, with Guardiola feeling it was the best decision given that the player was unwell. He told BT Sport: “Erling had a bit of fever before the game, Joao too. He was tired, Joao as well, That’s why we change it. In that period we struggle a lot.”

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Haaland has broken numerous records since arriving in the Premier League from Dortmund, scoring 17 goals in 11 appearances and cementing himself as one of the best players in world football. The Norwegian international has been the striker that Guardiola has longed for since Aguero’s prime years, and his side are now favourites to win all competitions that they are playing in.

Though Haaland’s fever woes could be music to the ears of Leicester City, assuming that he has not shaken off the illness by Saturday. The 22-year-old scored twice against Brighton, one from the penalty spot, and could cause the struggling Foxes an abundance of problems.

Guardiola was quizzed on whether Haaland would have taken the penalty over Mahrez against Dortmund, to which he replied: “We’ll see what happens. Of course, since we’ve been here we missed 24 or 25 penalties. It’s too much. I always admire the courage, responsibility to do it but we miss a lot of penalties, this is a problem.

“Copenhagen, here, we have to improve, otherwise the little things, the small margins are difference. I admire the courage, Riyad in the last seasons scored a lot in important moments, here in the semi-final. I admire the courage, so if he feels it next time he is going to take it, but of course, we have to improve.”

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