“He was a little bit down” – Pep Guardiola reveals Erling Haaland decision to play for Man City after passing of family friend

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has offered insight into the decision taken by Erling Haaland to feature for his club despite a challenging week in his personal life.

Haaland and those close to him paid tribute to the late Ivar Eggja earlier in the week, with the 59-year-old being a close family friend to both Erling and his father Alfie throughout their respective football careers and away from the pitch.

Alongside the Manchester City striker, Eggja was present throughout his opening two seasons at the club, appearing at his official unveiling event during the summer of 2022, and travelling with the forward to last year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony.

The Premier League champions themselves paid tribute to Ivar Eggja, laying a wreath in his usual seat within the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon, accompanied by the message, “In tribute to our much loved friend, Ivar.

“You brightened our days on a regular basis and it feels very strange we will not see you again. Your smile, soul and pure effervescence for life will always be remembered! Thank you for being part of our memories, from us all at Manchester City First Team.”

As such, it was only natural that Manchester City supporters were left with doubts over whether Erling Haaland would make himself available for the meeting with Brentford, with the club offering compassionate leave should it be requested.

Speaking after City’s latest Premier League win and another multi-goal haul for Erling Haaland, Pep Guardiola offered insight into the 24-year-old’s own decision to feature in the contest despite a challenging week in his personal life.

“Yesterday he saw the line-up and he knew it,” Guardiola said on Haaland taking the decision to make himself available for Manchester City action on Friday. “Of course it’s been tough, when a close family (friend) passes away at that age, it’s difficult for every human being but the day he came back, he was a little bit down in our locker room.”

Guardiola continued, “We tried to take care, everyone here, we take care of each other. When someone has problems, you have to be close to them and yesterday was much better. His mood was better, making jokes, and the best way sometimes to forget things is do your job, and he’s doing since many years perfectly.”

Quizzed on the mental strength of the Manchester City striker to continue playing despite the loss of his close friend, Pep Guardiola suggested that sometimes the best way to move on from difficulties is by focussing on your profession.

“I don’t know! You have to ask him, I don’t know! I didn’t ask him,” Guardiola first insisted. “You have to be strong, of course, and maybe for 90 minutes you forget your personal life, the punch in your face that life gives to you, so it’s good to be playing.

“I didn’t speak, of course we were in touch, how does he feel, but I’ve not even asked him, ‘Are you ready to play?’ I said, ‘OK he’s going to play’, and if he’s not ready he’ll come to me to say, ‘Pep I’m not ready’. He didn’t say that to me.”

Haaland has now moved to within one goal of a century in a Manchester City shirt, with his tally now standing at 99 strikes for the club in just 103 appearances.

In fact, should the 24-year-old score in his next game – which comes against Italian giants Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League, he will become the fastest player to reach 100 goals for a single club, beating Cristiano Ronaldo’s century in 105 appearances for Real Madrid.