Man City weigh options as Haaland doubts return and Semenyo sidelined
Manchester City may be without their leading striker Erling Haaland for Tuesday’s Champions League tie with AEK Athens after he suffered a foot knock in Saturday’s 3‑2 win over Ipswich Town. The 26‑year‑old netted twice in the victory, taking his Premier League total to eight goals and keeping him atop the scoring charts, but the injury leaves his availability for the European night in question.
Manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged the difficulty of replacing Haaland, saying the decision will depend on the game plan. “To replace Erling is always difficult but we have some different options,” he said. “At the moment it is Erling. Why do we need to think of a different nine if Erling is there? If something happens or we need a different nine plan, we’ll see.”
The potential loss of Haaland is compounded by the absence of Antoine Semenyo, who was ruled out for eight weeks after injuring his left knee in the same Ipswich match. Semenyo, who has made ten appearances across all competitions this season, contributed two goals and three assists before being forced off in the 77th minute.
Maresca indicated that Haaland could be assessed after Monday’s training, but the striker did not attend the session that was open to the media. With both forwards in doubt, the manager’s shortlist includes midfielder Phil Foden, who broke a long goal drought by scoring his first Premier League goal since December, and summer signing Iliman Ndiaye, a Senegalese forward who played a striking role in Sheffield United’s promotion campaign.
Other squad members who have filled in for Haaland in the past, such as Julian Alvarez and Omar Marmoush, may also be considered, though their recent playing time has been limited. Jeremy Doku, who operated on the left flank against Ipswich, is expected to retain that role while Semenyo recovers.
Haaland’s achievement against Ipswich also saw him reach his 100th non‑penalty Premier League goal, a milestone reached in fewer appearances than any player before him. City are still reeling from last week’s 4‑2 defeat to Paris Saint‑Germain in the Champions League and will be eager to get back on track.
Maresca expressed concern over Semenyo’s injury, describing it as a collateral knee issue rather than a muscle problem. “To lose Antoine or any player is not good,” he said. “We expected an even worse injury, but after the scan we feel much better. It could be eight weeks. The most important thing is for him to recover, and when he returns, probably around December, we will have a new player in terms of energy.”