Erling Haaland Injury Blow Hampers Manchester City UCL Push

Erling Haaland remains sidelined with a serious ankle injury, missing key matches including the upcoming Aston Villa clash. Despite a hopeful training video, Pep Guardiola confirmed he is not match-ready. City, currently 5th, are battling Chelsea and Villa for a top-four finish. Haaland absence is deeply felt, with Álvarez struggling to match his scoring form.

When the news broke about Erling Haaland’s potential return for Manchester City, fans were hopeful—but manager Pep Guardiola quickly shut down any optimism. Haaland, who suffered a serious ankle ligament injury during City’s FA Cup quarter-final against Bournemouth in March, remains sidelined. Despite sharing a video of himself lightly jogging at the training ground with the caption “We’re getting there!”, Guardiola confirmed the striker won't feature in upcoming key fixtures, including the vital clash against Aston Villa.

This injury setback couldn’t have come at a worse time. City, currently 5th in the Premier League, are fighting for a Champions League spot, with Chelsea and Aston Villa breathing down their necks. Haaland, who has scored 30 goals this season, is a massive miss, and his absence has exposed the team’s overreliance on him.

Julián Álvarez has been unable to match his efficiency, despite netting twice in four appearances. Guardiola remains cautious, stating that the club will not take any risks with Haaland’s fitness. Meanwhile, Phil Foden and Manuel Akanji are close to returning, offering some hope. But without their star forward, every match becomes a tougher challenge as City aim to salvage their top-four hopes.