Norway coach Stale Solbakken defended Erling Haaland and several other Premier League players after they hired a private jet and made a swift getaway from Porto last night.
Just half an hour after the final whistle sounded at the Estadio do Dragao following Norway’s 2-1 defeat to Portugal, Haaland, Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge and Kristoffer Ajer were spotted getting into a minibus and being whisked to a local airport to travel back to England.
It is believed from there they will disappear for a short holiday before the Premier League resumes this weekend.
Solbakken told VG: “It wasn’t just Haaland who left early. There’s a whole bunch of people leaving now. They need a breather. They have been given a few days off from their clubs.
“I understand that they book a private plane when they have two or three days off. You have to remember that the teams that went far in the World Cup have many players who have had minimal holiday time. Then it’s right into the start of the season and then a mini international tournament. It’s an extreme strain.”
Haaland went off due to exhaustion
Haaland lasted 67 minutes of the game against Portugal before signalling to come off. He was spotted with a slight limp when leaving the stadium but Solbakken said the substation was always pre planned.
He added: “We were hoping for 60 minutes after the conversation we had yesterday, and he managed just over 65.”
When he returns from his mini-holiday, Haaland will walk into the maelstrom that has been absorbing Manchester City while he has been away.
City were found guilty on 114 charges of financial malpractice and also of obfuscating the investigation. They have denied any wrongdoing and last week appealed the verdict.
Former Borussia Dortmund star Haaland has not spoken on the subject since linking up with Norway and the City players are likely to be kept away from the media ahead of Sunday’s game at Liverpool.
City can expect a hostile reception at Anfield with Liverpool the club that have arguably suffered more than any other as a result of City’s methods.
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