Erling Haaland, the towering Norwegian striker who has become Manchester City’s goal-scoring heartbeat, is facing a spell on the sidelines, and the news has sent ripples through the football world. Pep Guardiola, the mastermind behind City’s relentless pursuit of silverware, has confirmed that Haaland will be out for “five to seven weeks” after suffering an ankle injury during an FA Cup quarterfinal clash against Bournemouth. The announcement, made on the eve of April 1, 2025, has left fans and teammates alike holding their breath, hoping their talisman can return in time for the FIFA Club World Cup in June—a tournament City are desperate to conquer for the first time. “The doctors told me between five and seven weeks,” Guardiola revealed, his tone a mix of pragmatism and cautious optimism. “So hopefully for the end of the season and the Club World Cup, he will be ready.”
The injury struck at a cruel moment. Haaland had just leveled the score against Bournemouth with a trademark finish, erasing the sting of a missed penalty earlier in the match. But shortly after, a tangle with midfielder Lewis Cook left him crumpled on the pitch, clutching his left ankle. He tried to soldier on—because that’s the Haaland way—but the pain proved too much. Limping off in the 60th minute, he was replaced by January signing Omar Marmoush, who promptly scored the winner in a gritty 2-1 victory that secured City’s seventh straight FA Cup semifinal berth. Yet, the triumph was bittersweet. As Haaland exited the stadium on crutches, his foot encased in a protective boot, the focus shifted from the win to the void he’d leave behind.
For City, this is more than a bump in the road—it’s a test of their depth in a season already plagued by injuries. Haaland’s 30 goals across all competitions in 2024-25, including 21 in the Premier League, have been a lifeline for a team sitting fifth in the table, a far cry from their four-title dynasty. “We don’t have another player with his skills or specific qualities,” Guardiola admitted, acknowledging the Norwegian’s irreplaceable blend of physicality, instinct, and clinical finishing. At 24, Haaland has notched 120 goals in 138 appearances since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, a staggering tally that’s earned him back-to-back Golden Boots. His absence now joins a growing injury list—Rodri, Nathan Ake, John Stones, and Manuel Akanji are already sidelined—putting City’s ambitions under strain as they chase a Champions League spot and FA Cup glory.
Guardiola, ever the tactician, isn’t panicking. “For many years, we’ve played with different ways up front,” he said, hinting at a reshuffle that could see Marmoush step into the central role. The Egyptian forward, who scored 15 Bundesliga goals for Eintracht Frankfurt before his midseason move, has mostly played on the left for City but showed his versatility against Bournemouth. “We’re going to find another solution,” Guardiola promised, his confidence a beacon for a squad facing Leicester next in the Premier League and a looming FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest. Still, the clock is ticking. The Premier League season wraps up May 20, and the Club World Cup kicks off June 14 in the United States, with City’s first match against Wydad AC on June 18. Five to seven weeks from now lands Haaland’s return somewhere between mid-May and early June—a tight window that has City crossing their fingers.
Haaland’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time—or perhaps a better one, depending on how you spin it. With the season’s end in sight, a fully healed Haaland could be the X-factor in the Club World Cup, where City face Juventus, Al Ain, and Wydad AC in a revamped 32-team format. The winners stand to pocket up to £97 million, but for Guardiola, it’s about legacy. “Sometimes there are years that these things happen,” he reflected, shrugging off the injury woes that have dogged his team. “I’m sorry for them and for Erling as well.” Fans, meanwhile, are rallying online, some joking that Haaland’s crutches might double as goalposts, others praying his recovery beats the odds. As City adapt to life without their Viking striker, the hope is clear: that when he steps back onto the pitch—be it for the FA Cup final or the Club World Cup—he’ll be ready to unleash havoc once more.
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