Erling Haaland has played down talk of an injury sustained in training earlier this week and declared himself fit for Norway’s friendly against the Czech Republic tomorrow.
The Manchester City striker was seen limping after landing awkwardly in training on Tuesday, prompting fears he would miss the international double-header against the Czechs and Slovakia, with his participation in the crunch Premier League clash with Arsenal on March 31 also called into question.
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But the 23-year-old says he is fine for Friday’s game in Oslo.
I’m feeling fine,” Haaland said. “I didn’t walk off training. I don’t know who wrote that but I trained a full training session. I’m feeling good and ready to play the game.”
Haaland, who has scored 29 goals in 34 appearances for City this season, admitted the intensity of international football is different to the Premier League.
“It’s nice to play for the country. But it’s different, facing Arsenal next weekend versus the Czech Republic at home. I won’t lie. There is a big difference,” added the former Borussia Dortmund man, who cousin’t resist a dig at the scheduling for top players.
“There are as many matches as possible in the calendar. That seems to be the goal,” he said.
“The only thing Pep [Guardiola] said was ‘if you’re not healthy when you come back, I’ll come after you’.”
City go into the Arsenal game a point behind the Gunners, who sit top on goal difference from Liverpool.
