'The body can't stand it' - Norway boss gives insight into why Man City star Erling Haaland got injured

Norway boss Stale Solbakken has explained that Manchester City forward Erling Haaland is at greater risk of injury due to his explosive style of play.

The Norwegian forward joined last season's Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League winners City for £52million from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022. Haaand set English football alight in his first season at the Etihad, scoring 52 goals in 53 games across all competitions last campaign, and has 19 in 22 appearances this term.

But Haaland's season has had to be paused as he overcomes a hamstring injury that has left him on the sidelines since the Premier League defeat to Aston Villa last month. Now, his national team manager Solbakken has explained that keeping Haaland fit has turned into an 'art'.

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The Norway manager has explained how the City No.9 has to be handled with care to prevent his explosive style from blowing his body completely. “It's art," Solbakken said [via The Mirror]. Erling has an explosive style of play.

‌“The package he has been given and then physically acquired will explode and perform maximum actions on Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday every week in a normal season. He is the type of player who lives on power and explosion. Those who are exposed to it must take even more care of their bodies than others. But Erling has the body of a god - and it means taking care of that type of body.

‌“It is also something I have to think about as a coach. He has to be part of what we do when we don't have the ball, but it's not possible to ask him to do that constantly. The body can't stand