Pep Guardiola didnt tell Erling Haaland why hes been dropped for Man City game

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola didn't tell Erling Haaland why he dropped him for their Champions League clash with Copenhagen.

Guardiola benched Haaland for the first time in a competitive match since his £50million move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer. The Norwegian goal machine has scored in all but two of his 13 appearances so far this season, notching a ridiculous 20 goals already.

But with City cruising their way to qualification in Group G, he was rested in Denmark ahead of their Premier League trip to Liverpool on Sunday (October 16).

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Asked if that match had any bearing on his team selection, Guardiola told BT Sport: "Nothing. The guys who haven't played are tired. That's why we put fresh legs."

Then on Haaland specifically, the Spaniard added: "I didn't speak with him. I don't give to my players the decisions we take, the reasons why. They wouldn't understand it, they want to play."

Guardiola shared a similar sentiment earlier in the season. He said back in August: "No, I’m not going to explain.

How many goals will Haaland finish the season on? Let us know in the comments section.

"I don’t explain the reason for my decisions, because I will not convince them, some players understand they are part of everyone and some never will understand me. I know them quite well and some of them I can tell them the reason but others, I don’t care."

Julian Alvarez was given the starting berth instead of Haaland, who Guardiola has admitted in the past needs his minutes managed having suffered lengthy spells on the sidelines already in his young career before moving to the Etihad.

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