Why Erling Haaland is not involved for Man City on final day of the season

Erling Haaland is not in the Manchester City squad for the final game of the Premier League season at home to Aston Villa.

The match is not only the last game of the campaign but it is the final time Pep Guardiola will manage the side after 10 years in charge.

Haaland is not the only regular axed for the Premier League finale, with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly and Rodri all missing out as well.

Guardiola has made nine changes to the team which drew 1-1 at Bournemouth on Tuesday, a result which handed the Premier League title to Arsenal.

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John Stones and Bernardo Silva are in the starting XI in their final games for the club as well, with both players departing this summer.

There is no natural striker in Guardiola’s final team, with Phil Foden and Antoine Semenyo the furthest forward.

There appear to be no fitness concerns behind Haaland’s omission from the squad at the Etihad, although Manchester Evening News report that Rodri is not fit enough to play.

Haaland, O’Reilly, Guehi and Rodri will all be going to the World Cup this summer and have been handed the final game of the season off before a busy summer.

There is nothing on the line for City in Guardiola’s last game in charge, with a second place finish guaranteed.

Villa do need to avoid defeat to secure fourth place, although even if they drop to fifth, their spot in next season’s Champions League is guaranteed.

Explaining why he has decided to leave Manchester City this summer, Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference: ‘It’s the time. It’s not like going to sleep one day and the day after to say ‘now is the time’. It’s the process, I felt it for a while.

‘The club respect me, the decision. The club has to be ready. This job, it’s Selhurst Park, Anfield, Madrid and Madrid, FA Cup – now I have to live my life and see what happens.

‘The club needs a new manager, new energy, with these incredible players we have right now. And start to write a new chapter.

‘It’s not about when. You now the time. It’s not one week ago. We’re in competition, I need the players to be with me and me be with them. And after there is the moment to say “ok, I want to say a proper goodbye to my people”.’

He added on Sky Sports: ‘Now is the time. Once we announced it maybe we think “oh maybe I was wrong” but no no, this is the time. The past has been really good with us, but the future will be better without me. You have to have a special energy. The club made me this incredible presence [ambassador] so I will always be around in some way or another at this club.’

Villa boss Unai Emery is delighted to be facing Guardiola in his final game in charge of City, saying: ‘It’s my honour, my pleasure, because he’s the best coach in the world.

‘Clearly, he’s a huge inspiration for other coaches. The only genius is him.’