Carragher suggests real reason Haaland missed Real Madrid v Man City

Jamie Carragher questioned the injury that prevented Erling Haaland from starting for Manchester City in their huge Champions League clash against Real Madrid.

Man City travelled to the Bernabeu on Wednesday night hoping to overturn a one-goal deficit following a 3-2 defeat to the Spanish giants last week.

Pep Guardiola’s side were dealt a blow before kick-off with Premier League Golden Boot winner only named on the bench.

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague revealed on CBS Sports that Haaland had told Guardiola on Wednesday morning that he was not fit enough to start after jarring his knee in Saturday’s Premier League victory over Newcastle United.

Guardiola then said his star striker was not close to starting the Champions League play-off game due to the knee problem.

But Liverpool legend Carragher raised doubt over the injury and suggested Haaland did not fancy coming up against the returning Antonio Rudiger.

Ex-Chelsea defender Rudiger missed the first leg at the Etihad Stadium through injury but returned to the side this evening in a welcome boost for Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.

‘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 Rudiger? Is that because Rudiger 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 Rudiger-itis is it? Is that what we’re saying here?’

Ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards dismissed Carragher’s theory as ‘nonsense’.

‘Look at him, look at his narratives,’ he responded. ‘It’s just nonsense. Come on Jamie, you’re better than that, you’re better than that.’

January signing Omar Marmoush started up top for Manchester City in Haaland’s absence. The Egyptian scored a hat-trick at the weekend.

Reacting to Man City’s team news, ex-Premier League striker Chris Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘It would be really odd if Erling Haaland isn’t either ill or injured.

‘He scored both Man City goals in the reverse fixture. It is going to be one of those two things.

‘There is no way that for a game of this magnitude Pep Guardiola just leaves him out.’

Former goalkeeper Paul Robinson added: ‘We certainly weren’t expecting to see a Man City team sheet tonight without Erling Haaland.

‘The way that Omar Marmoush played at the weekend against Newcastle, it may not be a bad thing for him to get in the side.

‘He is a great replacement for Haaland albeit he is a different type of player. He will run in behind, cause the Real Madrid defence different types of problems.

‘We all know what Haaland brings to City though and it is a blow for them.’

More to follow…

MORE: Kevin De Bruyne says only three players are ‘more talented’ than Chelsea legend Eden Hazard

MORE: Real Madrid vs Man City LIVE: Champions League latest score and goal updates

MORE: Vincent Kompany slammed for ‘humiliating’ Bayern Munich player vs Celtic