Pep: Haaland theory well wide of mark

Guardiola left incredulous by questioning of striker's appetite to play in crunch Blues clash

- By JOE BRAY

PEP Guardiola could only stare into space when he first heard that Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher had gone on USA network TV and suggested Erling Haaland asked to sit out Manchester City's clash with Real Madrid to avoid a difficult game.

Haaland was a surprise name on the City bench at the Bernabeu on Wednesday having failed to overcome the knee issue suffered at the end of last weekend's win against Newcastle. Haaland remained on the bench and did not warm up in Madrid, leaving him a doubt to face Liverpool this afternoon.

Before Wednesday's game, Carragher had suggested on CBS that Haaland had a case of 'Rudiger-itis' - asking whether the striker saw the returning Antonio Rudiger on the Real Madrid team sheet and decided not to face the German.

Former City player Micah Richards ridiculed the theory, and Guardiola was asked about the comments at the end of his Friday press conference. "Oh God. Did he say that? Jamie Carragher says that? Oh God," he replied, showing utter disbelief at what he had heard.