Norway manager Stale Solbakken has issued a stark warning regarding the physical state of star striker Erling Haaland, admitting that the forward is “thoroughly spent” following a relentless sequence of matches for both club and country.
The concerns came to a head during Norway’s UEFA Nations League encounter against Portugal, where a visibly exhausted Haaland was withdrawn in the 67th minute after struggling to influence the game.
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Speaking after the match, Solbakken pointed to the extreme demands placed on his main man, whose off-season was severely shortened by Norway’s deep run into the World Cup.
“He was simply thoroughly spent,” Solbakken remarked. “Some of my players have only had six or seven days of holiday. And you do not live off your physical condition in a normal job. Then it is straight into the start of the season, followed by a mini-tournament, so it is an extreme strain.”
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Highlighting why the Manchester City powerhouse is feeling the brunt of the calendar, Solbakken added: “He’s in the group that carries the heaviest workload—precisely because his team plays in every tournament and he’s the main man.”
With domestic action looming, Manchester City’s medical and coaching staff will be monitoring their talisman closely as he returns from international duty.
