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Posted By Udokabestluv On February 20th, 2025

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has suggested why Erling Haaland missed Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League playoff second-leg 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Man City traveled to Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night, hoping to overturn a one-goal deficit following a 3-2 defeat to Los Blancos at Etihad Stadium last week.

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague said on CBS Sports that Haaland had told Guardiola on Wednesday morning that he was not fit enough to start against Real Madrid after jarring his knee against Newcastle United in the Premier League last weekend.

Guardiola, speaking in his pre-match interview before Man City’s clash with Real Madrid, said Haaland was not close to starting the game against the LaLiga giants due to the knee problem.

However, Carragher has now raised doubts over the injury and suggested Haaland did not want to play against Antonio Rüdiger, who returned to the Real Madrid squad after recovering from injury, having missed the first leg.

“So let me work this out,” Carragher said on CBS Sports.

“Haaland has gone to the manager this morning and said he’s not fit?

“Do you think that’s got something to do with Rüdiger? Is that because Rüdiger is playing?

“He’s on the bench, so he can’t be injured. I never went to see the manager on the morning of a game and said I’m not fit.

“So he’s injured, is he? It’s Rüdiger-itis, is it? Is that what we’re saying here?”

In Haaland’s absence, new signing Omar Marmoush led Man City’s attack against Carlo Ancelotti’s side.