OSLO : Norway striker Erling Haaland is showing signs of physical fatigue after a relentless run of matches for club and country, prompting concerns over the workload facing one of football’s busiest players.
The 26-year-old Manchester City forward was substituted after 67 minutes of Norway’s 2-1 Nations League defeat by Portugal on Sunday.
“He was simply thoroughly spent,” Norway manager Stale Solbakken told reporters.
“Some of my players have only had six or seven days of holiday. And you do not live off your physical condition in a normal job. Then it is straight into the start of the season, followed by a mini-tournament, so it is an extreme strain.”
Haaland is among the players carrying the heaviest workload, Solbakken said, because City compete in every major competition and the Norwegian remains their leading attacking threat.
Norway midfielder Patrick Berg also said Haaland’s fatigue was understandable after the striker had played all three of the team’s previous matches.
“He has played all three games before this one, so it’s not that shocking his strength finally ran out,” Berg said.
Haaland’s schedule has been particularly demanding in recent months. Norway’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals cut short his off-season and he has since featured in every Premier League match for City, scoring five goals.
After scoring twice in Norway’s 3-2 Nations League win over Denmark last month, Haaland highlighted the demanding schedule on social media, writing: “So tired. New match in 70 hours.”
NORWEGIAN PLAYERS’ UNION CONCERNED
Norwegian players’ union NISO also expressed concern about the increasing workload facing the country’s leading players.
“Over time, we have seen a worrying trend where the burden on top players has become far too high,” NISO chief Kristoffer Vatshaug said in a statement on Monday. “It has already had consequences for several players. This is serious.”
The union wants clearer guidelines covering workload and recovery, including the time between matches, consecutive rest periods, travel demands and recovery after a long season.
Vatshaug said players should not be expected to protect themselves from excessive workloads.
“We cannot have a system where protecting players depends on them saying stop themselves. Footballers want to play football. They want to turn out for their club, national team and teammates,” he said.
Haaland now has six days to recover before Manchester City resume their Premier League campaign away to Liverpool on Sunday.
