Erling Haaland has departed the Norwegian international setup following their loss to Portugal, taking a few days to recuperate before heading back to Manchester City. Head coach Stale Solbakken has expressed growing concern over the heavy workload faced by the 26-year-old striker.
During the international break, Haaland participated in all four of Norway's Nations League matches. He played the full 90 minutes in the first three matches but was substituted in the 67th minute against Portugal due to a slight injury, making way for Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Solbakken confirmed that Haaland did not travel directly back to Manchester:
He's not the only one leaving. A whole group of players are heading off now. Their clubs have given them a few days off. They've booked a private jet, which none of us can afford.
The signs of fatigue were visible in Haaland even before the match against Portugal. After the game against Wales, Solbakken spoke to the forward about managing his time on the pitch.
Solbakken noted:
He had 60 solid minutes today. Before that, he had two matches where he played the full 90 – against Denmark and Portugal.
He was fatigued in the match against Wales. So, we had a heart-to-heart yesterday and discussed what options were possible.
One option considered was to keep Haaland on the bench for the first half against Portugal, a suggestion that the player did not take well.
He could have played the last 45 minutes against Portugal. We discussed it, but he had very bad feelings about that option. I'm delighted he managed to deliver 60 solid minutes in the end.
Solbakken believes that Haaland is amongst those players feeling the most intense pressure in European football:
At his club, he plays nearly every match. He belongs to a group of players under the highest strain because he participates in all tournaments and is a key player for the team.
Last season, Haaland played 52 matches for Manchester City and clocked up an impressive 4144 minutes before heading to the World Cup, where he featured in another five matches for 555 minutes. His last game for Norway in that tournament was on July 11.
After a short break, he returned to Manchester in August. This season, he has already played seven times for City, amassing 593 minutes and scoring seven goals, alongside four matches for the national team.
Solbakken acknowledged that the national team couldn't change the calendar:
It’s tough, but we can’t do anything about it. We have to play the matches that are laid out in the calendar.
For players involved in the Champions League, who hardly got any rest, the situation is even tougher, especially for those who didn’t receive a proper break over the summer due to the World Cup and went deep into the tournament.
When you have so little time to recover and then return to a league with a high intensity, only to arrive at the national team – this is not an excuse. It’s simply madness.
Haaland will now enjoy a few days away from the team before rejoining Manchester City, although the extent of the injury that forced him off against Portugal remains unclear.
