Erling Haaland signalled to the Norway bench in the 67th minute of their 2-1 Nations League defeat to Portugal, and a familiar problem landed on Enzo Maresca's desk.
Dodged a bullet, but the warning stands
City have avoided the injury that would have wrecked the opening weeks of the campaign. That much is clear. Haaland is not facing a spell on the sidelines. But the striker is fatigued, and Norway manager Ståle Solbakken made no attempt to dress it up.
Solbakken explained that the plan had been for Haaland to play 60 minutes against Portugal. He got them. "Today he played 60 good minutes, he played twice 90 minutes against Denmark and Portugal (first match)," Solbakken said. The manager added that Haaland was tired against Wales.
That is the part that matters for City. A player who has been asked to carry a heavy load for club and country is now showing the signs. And the calendar is not helping. It's only early in the 2026-27 season, yet the 2026 FIFA World Cup already sits in the recent past. Haaland, like many of his international teammates, had a busy summer. Solbakken said they had a heart-to-heart talk yesterday. He also said Haaland could have played the last 45 minutes against Portugal, but that the player has very bad vibes and feelings about it. He has experienced being put in the league cup, Solbakken added. Even so, the Norway manager was keen to stress the positive. "I'm very happy that he managed to dig out 60 good minutes."
It wasn't just Haaland who left the stadium early, either. Solbakken told the media that Haaland and several of his Norwegian teammates departed for a short period of rest. "It wasn't just Haaland who left early," he said. "There's a whole bunch of people leaving now."
The wider picture is a fixture list that has been squeezed dry. Norway's players, according to their manager, are fatigued after having no time off following last summer's World Cup. "They need a breather," Solbakken said. "They have been given a few days off from their club." He added that when players have the chance to book a private plane, he understands them taking it with two or three days off. "You have to remember that the teams that went far in the World Cup have many players who have had minimal vacation," he said. "Then it's right to the start of the series and then a mini-tournament. It's an extreme strain."
So City have a decision to make. Haaland is one of the most important players at the club, and the workload from this point onwards will have to be managed. He cannot play every minute of every match. Maresca and the fitness staff will need a plan to handle his fatigue. For now, the bullet has been dodged. The lesson has not.