In a press conference ahead of the match between Manchester City and Liverpool next Sunday (16:30), Pep Guardiola was left in disbelief when informed by a journalist about a comment made by former Reds defender Jamie Carragher regarding Erling Haaland.
The journalist informed the coach that Carragher, following City's elimination against Real Madrid in the Champions League, suggested that the Norwegian striker missed the second leg of the tie not due to injury, but out of "fear" of facing Antonio Rüdiger, the center-back of the "Merengues."
The claim quickly spread across media outlets and social media, causing a stir among football fans and pundits alike. The idea that a player of Haaland’s caliber renowned for his physicality, confidence, and goal-scoring ability would intentionally miss such a crucial match due to intimidation seemed far-fetched, but it was enough to provoke a strong reaction from Guardiola.
The City manager, visibly taken aback when confronted with the claim during his pre-match press conference, responded with disbelief. "Jamie Carragher really said that? Oh God… I'm not laughing. I don't know why he made that accusation. Do you think Haaland didn't want to play because of that? It's not true… It would have been crazy if he had played, he simply couldn't." Guardiola's reaction reflected both frustration and amusement, as he struggled to comprehend the reasoning behind Carragher’s remarks. His rhetorical question underlined the absurdity of the suggestion, emphasizing that Haaland’s absence was purely down to a genuine injury rather than any psychological factor.
Haaland, who had been instrumental for City throughout the season, was ruled out of the second leg against Madrid due to a muscle issue. Despite the Norwegian’s absence, City still put up a strong fight, but ultimately, their hopes of defending their Champions League title came to an end after a dramatic penalty shootout at the Etihad. The decision to leave Haaland out was made by the medical team in consultation with Guardiola, prioritizing the player’s long-term fitness over the immediate need for reinforcement against Madrid. Guardiola had expressed before the game that Haaland was not fit enough to play, making Carragher's comments even more baffling in his view.
City’s elimination was a bitter pill to swallow, particularly given their status as favorites in the competition. The absence of their star striker was a major talking point, but very few had gone as far as to question Haaland’s mentality. Carragher’s comments, however, added an unexpected narrative, suggesting that the Norwegian forward had been unsettled by his previous encounters with Rüdiger. The German defender, known for his aggressive and relentless style of play, had marked Haaland tightly in previous meetings, limiting his impact in key matches. While it is true that Rüdiger had effectively neutralized Haaland on occasion, implying that the striker would choose to sit out a match due to fear was seen by many as an exaggeration.
The reaction from the football world was swift, with several former players and analysts defending Haaland’s professionalism and competitive spirit. Many pointed to the striker’s track record of stepping up in big games, including his crucial role in City’s treble-winning campaign the previous season. Teammates and club insiders also dismissed the claim, reinforcing that Haaland had been desperate to play and was deeply disappointed at missing the fixture.
Guardiola, known for his meticulous approach to player fitness and workload management, was quick to shut down the speculation. His sarcastic closing remarks in the press conference "26 minutes of press conference, do you need more? Are we done?" signaled his irritation at what he saw as an unnecessary and baseless controversy. He preferred to shift focus towards City's upcoming clash with Liverpool, a pivotal match in the Premier League title race, rather than entertain what he perceived as a distraction.
Despite Guardiola’s dismissal of the claim, the debate lingered in football discussions, with fans divided on whether Carragher’s comments were simply a provocative take or an unfair attack on Haaland’s character. While some saw it as typical punditry aimed at stirring conversation, others viewed it as an unwarranted critique of a player whose commitment and toughness have never been questioned before.
As City prepared to face Liverpool, the episode added another layer of intrigue to what was already a highly anticipated fixture. Haaland, expected to feature in the game, would have the perfect opportunity to silence any doubters with a strong performance. Guardiola, meanwhile, made it clear that his focus remained on the pitch, urging his players to move on from the Champions League disappointment and channel their energy into the domestic title race.
Regardless of the controversy, one thing remained certain Haaland’s competitive spirit and hunger for goals would soon have the chance to speak louder than any pundit’s speculation.
