Manchester City striker Erling Haaland suffers unusual ‘injuries’ ahead of Champions League game against Real Madrid

A few weeks ago, Brentford defender Ben Mee revealed the ‘technique’ used by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland to get the better of his opponents. “There were little pinches here and there between him and me”, said Mee of his battle with the Premier League’s top goalscorer. However, it seems as if the former Borussia Dortmund man, who is gearing up to take on Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, got a taste of his own medicine this weekend.

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Erling Haaland’s run-in with Yerry Mina

City 3-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday could quite rightly be characterised as ‘run-of-the-mill’, but one of the most interesting subplots during the 90 minutes was the ongoing tussle between Haaland and Toffees defender Yerry Mina. Referee Anthony Taylor even had to give the pair a talking-to on more than one occasion. And at the end, the Sky Blues attacker went some way to explaining why, revealing a number of scratches and pinch marks all over his upper body that had, presumably, been the Colombian defender’s doing.

Guardiola unhappy with Haaland manhandling

Speaking to UK broadcaster Sky Sports after the game, it’s safe to say that City boss Pep Guardiola was not at all impressed: “That’s got nothing to do with soccer. It’s not necessary to do what he does in every game. And I told him, ‘you’re a good enough player not to have to resort to this kind of thing’”. After the final whistle, the former Barcelona boss had got involved in a heated discussion with Mina out on the field.

“He knows (what he did). Ask him. This is not physical, this is not mental. There are things he does that are not necessary”, added Guardiola.

Haaland pinches another goal as City head for the Premier League title

However, Mina’s manhandling of Haaland was not enough to stop the Norwegian from scoring against Everton, with his 36th Premier League goal of the campaign putting City 2-0 ahead with just over five minutes to go until half time. German midfielder Ilkay Gündogan, a summer transfer target for Barça, scored twice as the Mancunians edged closer to another league title. Guardiola’s side require only three points (realistically two) from their three remaining matches to be sure of finishing ahead of second-placed Arsenal.