Pep Guardiola gives update on Erling Haaland injury after striker misses Manchester City's Premier League win over Leeds: 'Wish he comes back'
Updated 02/03/2026 at 08:45 GMT
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Manchester City handled the blow of losing Erling Haaland to injury shortly before their Premier League clash with Leeds United. Antoine Semenyo scored the game's only goal at Elland Road to move City to within two points of Arsenal, and Pep Guardiola was asked about the fitness of Haaland ahead of an FA Cup clash with Newcastle and Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid.
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Pep Guardiola said it is unclear when Erling Haaland would return for Manchester City after the striker missed his side's 1-0 win over Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday.
It did not emerge until the day of the game that the division's top scorer would be absent with an unknown injury issue.
And Guardiola refused to divulge much information in the aftermath of his team's hard-fought victory at Elland Road.
"I wish he comes back," the City boss told Sky Sports.
Asked when Haaland might be involved again, he added: "I don't know."
Guardiola did, though, suggest the injury would not be "a big issue".
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"We don't have spies in the training centre to deliver the info to our media," he later told BBC Match of the Day.
"I think it is not a big issue. We will see."
Losing Haaland for any length of time would be a major blow for City - with an Emirates FA Cup fifth round clash with Newcastle United and UEFA Champions League last 16 tie against Real Madrid coming up, both live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
City also meet Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final in March, and will attempt to continue their Premier League title charge.
Haaland's absence was dealt with against Leeds, though, as Antoine Semenyo scored the game's only goal late in the first-half.
Victory moved City two points behind league leaders Arsenal, who host Chelsea on Sunday.
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Guardiola coy over Haaland as he refuses to elaborate on injury
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"One game at a time," Guardiola said in his post-match interview on Sky Sports. "Recovery, there are many games, people are tired.
"Every game is really, really tough. Yesterday, Wolves won. The Premier League is better than ever.
"To qualify for the Champions League is the main target for the club because for the last 10 years we have been there."
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City were made to work hard for three points by a dogged and well-organised Leeds side, who pressed from the front and had several good chances.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin went close twice in the first half, and there were strong appeals for a penalty after a possible handball in the box after the break.
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Antoine Semenyo played as City's focal point in Haaland's absence
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Leeds manager Daniel Farke was sent off after the final whistle for confronting the referee.
But it was delight for Guardiola, who attempted to cool rising tensions on the pitch as players from both sides clashed.
"We make a thousand million passes, and we controlled the transition and then in the last 20 minutes we created a little bit more," he said. "Huge victory to still be there.
"Once again, the guys make an extraordinary effort because otherwise it is not possible."
Leeds assistant manager Edmund Riemer, meanwhile, addressed Farke's sending off, with defeat leaving them on 31 points, still six points clear of the relegation zone.
"I had a short chat with him," Riemer said. "There were incidents, there was time wasting. They got a yellow card in added time. Six minutes.
"You are emotional, and then he ran on the pitch, and he got a red card, I think he for what he said. Perhaps it was too aggressive.
"He rarely gets sent off. He is never aggressive and rarely gets sent off, so I think it is harsh."
Guardiola has also expressed his disappointment after a section of Leeds supporters were heard booing when the match was paused in the first-half for City's Muslim players to break their Ramadan fast.
With the game taking place during the holy month, referee Peter Bankes brought the game to a halt in the 13th minute as a trio of Guardiola's players observed Iftar, the meal eaten by Muslims at sunset to break their fast during Ramadan.
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Play was halted after 13 minutes at Elland Road for players to break their fast
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Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush took on fluids but were met by a chorus of boos from the home end during the brief stoppage in play.
"It is a modern world, right?" Guardiola said. "[You see] what is happening in the world today. Respect religion, diversity, that is the point. The Premier League says you can have one or two minutes, you can have for the [fasting] players to do it [break their fast]. It is what it is, unfortunately.
"We took on a little bit of vitamins because [Rayan] Cherki, [Rayan] Ait-Nouri did not eat today. No more than that. The question is, can they do it or not? What is the problem?"
Leeds assistant manager Edmund Riemer admitted he was disheartened to learn of the crowd’s response.
"I’m probably the guy who doesn’t hear a lot because I’m really focused on the game," he explained. "But I’ve heard about it. Obviously, some of the supporters did it, so we try to learn from it. It’s disappointing - we need to do better next time."
Anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out was more direct in its assessment, describing the booing as "massively disappointing".
In a statement, the group emphasised that the protocol allowing Muslim players to break their fast has been established practice for several years.
"Pausing the game to allow Muslim players to break their fast during Ramadan has been an agreed protocol for several years now," it read.
"It's an important and visible part of making the game welcoming for Muslim players and communities. But as tonight's reaction shows, football still has a long way to go in terms of education and acceptance."
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