“Haaland? If you saw him in my hotel room at 12 at night…”

The Norwegian striker Manchester City Erling Haaland he was “devastated” and “very frustrated” at not being able to play due to injury against the Spain and Georgia this Saturday in a qualifying match for the Eurocup, coach Stale Solbakken admitted today.

“Haaland was devastated when I talked to him in the room last midnight. He was affected,” said Solbakken in a press conference at the Norwegian team’s concentration in Marbella, which was broadcast by various digital media in this Nordic country.

The Norwegian team announced an hour earlier that the City star had not recovered from some groin discomfort he suffered from last weekend’s match against Burnley and that he would be out for the match in Spain and the against three days later against Georgia.

Solbakken revealed that Sand informed him of the defeat and he told the player himself, highlighting his commitment to the national team. “If you saw him in my hotel room at twelve o’clock at night, you would understand. He was very frustrated, he did everything he could,” said Solbakken, who recalled that Haaland played four Nations games League with him in June. Norway. when in negotiations to change teams.

They will not call anyone in your area

The Norwegian coach emphasized the “good talks” maintained with City and avoided speculating on whether Haaland would play if it was the final or if he could be there for the next game in the English league: “What I know he can ‘don’t play now.” It was “disappointing” not to have the “best” striker in the world, admitted Solbakken, who nevertheless stressed that the team felt “strong” and “motivated”.

Solbakken made sure the striker was in good position and would not call on a substitute, something he has never done to cover the absence of centre-back Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford), who was in the last minute. Spain and Norway open the first day of group A in Malaga this Saturday, and the Nordic team take on Georgia three days later at home in Batumi.