Erling Haaland, the standout striker for Manchester City, sustained an ankle injury during the team’s 2-1 FA Cup quarterfinal victory over Bournemouth on March 30, 2025, which could keep him out of action for up to seven weeks. This development poses significant hurdles as the team gets closer to important games in both home and international competitions.
Details of the Injury
Haaland, 24, suffered the injury in the second half of the match after being tackled by Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook. After providing City with the equalizer in the 61st minute, Haaland was ejected off the field and was spotted exiting Vitality Stadium wearing a protective boot. Preliminary examinations in Manchester on Monday revealed damage to his left ankle; consequently, a specialist consultation is necessary to determine the entire degree of the ailment. Manager Pep Guardiola provided an update on Haaland’s health at his media conference on Tuesday. According to him, “the doctors told me between five and seven weeks.” With any luck, he’ll be ready for the FIFA Club World Cup and the season finale.
Impact on Upcoming Fixtures
The absence of Haaland coincides with a pivotal point in Manchester City’s campaign. With nine games left, the team is currently one point behind fourth-place Chelsea in the Premier League standings, in fifth place. Every forthcoming match is crucial because a top-four finish is necessary to qualify for the Champions League.
Key matches Haaland is expected to miss include:
- April 2: Leicester City (Home)
- April 6: Manchester United (Away)
- April 12: Crystal Palace (Home)
- April 19: Everton (Away)
- April 26/27: FA Cup Semi-final against Nottingham Forest (Neutral Venue)
- May 2: Wolverhampton Wanderers (Home)
- May 10: Southampton (Away)
- May 18: Bournemouth (Home)
- Date TBD: Aston Villa (Home)
Should Haaland’s recovery extend to the full seven weeks, his earliest potential return could coincide with the Premier League’s final day on May 25, when City faces Fulham away.
Team’s Response and Adjustments
Guardiola emphasized that the team must adjust and come up with solutions within the squad in light of Haaland’s injury. He emphasized that although no player has Haaland’s special abilities, the team has used a variety of attacking tactics in the past and will have to do so once more during this time.
Omar Marmoush, who joined Haaland against Bournemouth and scored the game-winning goal, is one possible replacement. As Marmoush assumes a more significant position in the attacking lineup, his performance will be closely watched.
Looking Ahead
There is still optimism that Haaland can recover in time to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup, which is scheduled for June 14–13 in the US, despite the setback. Guardiola expressed hope that Haaland would be ready for the season finale and the Club World Cup, underscoring the importance of his involvement in these competitions. As Manchester City navigates this challenging period without their prolific scorer, their depth and fortitude will be tested in the coming weeks. The team’s performance and adjustment without Haaland will be closely monitored by both fans and experts.
