- Haaland Injury Concern Eased
- Guardiola Provides Positive Update
- Marmoush Steals the Show
- Haaland’s Surprise Captaincy
- Premier League Standings Shake-Up
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has eased concerns over Erling Haaland’s fitness after the striker suffered a knee injury in the 87th minute of City’s dominant 4-0 victory over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium.
Despite initial fears, Guardiola reassured fans post-match: “When he was down, everyone was scared, but he got up and walked smiling like always. I didn’t speak to him or the doctors, but they didn’t come with bad news, so hopefully, he is fine.”
Marmoush Shines with Hat-Trick
The game saw January signing Omar Marmoush steal the spotlight with a first-half hat-trick, scoring three goals in just 14 minutes. James McAtee added a late fourth to cap off an emphatic performance.
Marmoush, who joined from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported £59 million, has already made an impact. Guardiola praised his pace and movement, saying: “He’s a player that we missed. His runs in behind give us more options in attack.”
Haaland Named Captain
In a surprising move, Haaland captained City for the match. Guardiola explained: “When Kyle Walker left, Kevin De Bruyne became first in line, and I nominated Erling. When a player is here for 10 years, sooner or later, they take on that responsibility.”
The win lifts City to fourth in the Premier League with 44 points, while Newcastle drops to seventh with 41.
Premier League Standings and Upcoming Fixtures
City now face a crucial week, with the second leg of their Champions League tie against Real Madrid on Wednesday, followed by a Premier League showdown against leaders Liverpool on Sunday, February 23. Haaland’s fitness will be key as City push forward in both competitions.
