Erling Haaland will miss up to seven weeks after injuring his ankle, leaving Manchester City to adjust as they chase Champions League qualification

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury during his side’s 2-1 FA Cup quarterfinal victory over Bournemouth on Sunday.

Haaland, who had just scored his 30th goal of the season, was forced off the pitch in the 70th minute, leaving Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola with a major injury concern.

Guardiola confirmed on Tuesday that Haaland, 24, will be unavailable for up to seven weeks, ruling the prolific forward out of much of the remaining Premier League campaign.

Despite this setback, City remain hopeful that Haaland will return in time for the FIFA Club World Cup later this summer.

“The doctors told me between five and seven weeks,” Guardiola said ahead of City’s Premier League match against struggling Leicester on Wednesday. “So hopefully, for the end of the season and the FIFA Club World Cup, he will be ready.”

Haaland’s absence comes as a significant blow to Manchester City, who have already been dealing with a series of injuries this season.

The absence of midfielder Rodri for a substantial portion of the campaign has also left Guardiola with fewer options in the squad, forcing the team to adapt as they continue their pursuit of a Champions League spot.

Guardiola acknowledged that the team lacks another player with Haaland’s attributes, particularly his clinical finishing and physical presence in the box.

However, he remains optimistic that the rest of the squad can adjust to life without the Norwegian striker, stressing the importance of adapting to different playing styles.

“We need players with other qualities, and we have to bring more players close to the box,” Guardiola explained.

Haaland’s injury is expected to rule him out of most of City’s remaining Premier League fixtures, with the final game of the season scheduled for May 25 against Fulham.

The FA Cup final, which takes place on May 17, is likely to fall outside of the striker’s recovery window. His injury also raises concerns about his fitness for Manchester City’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup in June, with their first match set for June 18.

Despite the challenges, Guardiola remains confident that City can secure a Champions League spot, even though they are currently in fifth place in the Premier League standings.

“We had in the past much tougher than this one,” Guardiola said, referencing previous seasons when City were in intense competition for the Premier League title.

“This is the first time, along with the first season I was here nine years ago, that we have to fight to qualify for the Champions League.”

With nine Premier League games remaining and an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest in April, Manchester City will need to adjust their tactics and rely on the remaining squad members to fill the void left by Haaland’s absence.