Pep Guardiola reveals Erling Haaland and Man City wish ahead of Arsenal clash

Pep Guardiola admits he’ll be sweating on the fitness of some of his senior players as Manchester City head into the international break. 

City sealed a sixth straight FA Cup semi-final with a 2-0 victory against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday night. They next return to action for a huge game in the title race against Arsenal on Easter Sunday, March 31.  

Erling Haaland is one of those heading away with his national side, Norway playing friendlies against the Czech Republic and Slovakia with Guardiola knowing any knock or injury would be critical at this time of the campaign. 

“He’s not my player anymore from now on,” he said of Haaland. “What they decide will be fine. They know that the players fought a lot, they trained a lot and there’s been a lot of adrenaline, concentration, to arrive in this (City’s) position. They know they are friendly games, they have to handle it wisely and hopefully they can do it.”

Guardiola did say Kevin De Bruyne will be “back soon” having been taken off against Liverpool and missed the Newcastle game while Jack Grealish returned to the City squad as an unused substitute against the Magpies. 

The City boss told the BBC: “You see us when we come back every three days, three days, three days, three days. We need Kevin, Jack and Erling to come back in the best possible conditions."