- Erling Haaland has been out of form recently
- He had a much better game against Real Madrid earlier in the week
- Pep Guardiola has no concerns about his star striker.
Pep Guardiola has spoken about whether Erling Haaland is ready for the Carabao Cup, after a disappointing period for both Manchester City and the forward.
Manchester City were on an upward trajectory at the end of February, but everything has since come crashing down.
The Citizens have been held to draws in their two most recent Premier League fixtures and were dumped out of the Champions League by Real Madrid.
Erling Haaland has been the most criticised Man City player during this time, with the Norwegian playing well below his usual high standards.
However, he was far more involved in the recent 2-1 defeat to Los Blancos, landing on the scoresheet during the first half.
Pep Guardiola says Erling Haaland is ready for the Carabao Cup final
Man City will need Haaland alert and ready to contribute again on Sunday, as a single goal could be what ends up separating the two teams.
Pep Guardiola has not actually spoken with the prolific frontman in a couple of days due to giving his players time off, but he knows his biggest goal threat will be ready.
“I’m pretty sure he’s focused, like all of us,” Guardiola said during his pre-match press conference.
“I did not speak with him, we’ve had two days off, [but] I’m pretty sure he’s ready.”
Haaland failed to score in his most recent final
Haaland last played in a final at the end of the 2024/25 season in the FA Cup and he was unable to score, as Man City suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace.
This may be weighing on his mind ahead of the match against Arsenal and he will be keen to ensure he steps up for the big occasion.
Although Haaland is viewed as one of the best strikers in Europe, the media will be keen to get on his back if he is unable to deliver in the biggest games.
Therefore, it is essential for both the 25 year old’s sake and Man City’s that he performs as well as possibly can.
