Guardiola Hopes Haaland Injury Scare is Minor as Manchester City Thrash Newcastle

City Bounce Back with 4-0 Win, but Haaland’s Late Knock Raises Concerns Ahead of Crucial Fixtures

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is hopeful that star striker Erling Haaland has avoided a serious injury after the Norwegian was forced off late in City’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday. The win was a much-needed boost for the reigning Premier League champions, who have struggled for consistency this season and face a pivotal week in their campaign.

City’s dominant performance at the Etihad Stadium saw January signing Omar Marmoush steal the spotlight with a first-half hat-trick, while James McAtee added a fourth goal late in the game. However, the victory was marred by a worrying moment in the 87th minute when Haaland went down clutching his knee and was substituted.

Guardiola admitted the incident caused concern, especially with crucial matches on the horizon. City travel to face Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League knockout tie on Wednesday, followed by a Premier League clash against leaders Liverpool on Sunday.

“When he was down, everyone was scared,” Guardiola said of Haaland’s injury. “But he got up and walked off smiling, as he always does. I didn’t speak to him or the doctors, but the doctors didn’t come with bad news, so hopefully, he is fine.”

Haaland, who has netted 27 goals this season, was named captain for the match—a first in his Premier League career. Guardiola explained the decision, saying, “When Kyle [Walker] left, Kevin [De Bruyne] became the first [in line], and I nominated Erling to be captain. When a player is here for 10 years, sooner or later, they take on that responsibility. It’s nice that it happened for the first time in the Premier League.”

The match also marked a standout performance from Marmoush, who joined City from Eintracht Frankfurt in January for a reported £59 million. The Egyptian forward’s quickfire hat-trick inside 33 minutes showcased his ability to exploit defenses with his pace and movement—a quality Guardiola believes City have been missing this season.

“The highlights are for him, of course,” Guardiola said of Marmoush. “Three goals—we knew he had this in him. In Germany, at Frankfurt, he put up good numbers. He showed what he is today, and hopefully, he can handle the compliments that are coming his way. It’s non-stop.”

Guardiola also emphasized the importance of Marmoush’s style of play, adding, “He’s a player we’ve missed—his movements in behind, his pace, and his ability to attack space. When we play like we did today, everyone is better—even the manager!”

As City look to salvage their season, the focus now shifts to their upcoming fixtures. With Haaland’s fitness in the spotlight and Marmoush finding his rhythm, Guardiola will be hoping his side can build on this performance and keep their hopes alive in both the Champions League and the Premier League.

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