Manchester City are gearing up to face Chelsea in Ohio, offering fans a sneak peek at their much-anticipated clash on the opening weekend of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
City, managed by Pep Guardiola, have struggled to secure a win on their preseason tour of the United States and have faced some setbacks, including injuries to key players. Notably, their star striker, Erling Haaland, has been dealing with muscle issues.
Haaland was substituted at half-time during games against AC Milan and Barcelona. Guardiola explained that while the first substitution was pre-planned, the second one was due to a concern over Haaland’s injury.
New York state of mind 🧠 pic.twitter.com/e1IlUO8Vb9
— Erling Haaland (@ErlingHaaland) July 25, 2024
Erling Haaland Injury Update
Haaland is currently a doubt for the match against Chelsea due to minor muscle problems, which might keep him sidelined.
After the game against Barcelona, Guardiola shared that Haaland was not feeling comfortable due to muscle niggles. Guardiola expressed his reluctance to risk Haaland’s health, as a longer-term injury could see him out for several weeks.
However, there’s some good news: Guardiola provided an optimistic update, saying, “He is much better. He told me today that he woke up feeling significantly improved, and we’re hopeful he can play a few minutes against Chelsea.”
Manchester City is still missing several of their top players, who are currently away on international duty from tournaments such as the Euros and Copa America.
Their upcoming game against Chelsea will serve as their final preparation before facing off against Manchester United in the Community Shield next weekend. This match against Chelsea is essential for City to make their final adjustments before the competitive season begins.