Norway to Manage Erling Haaland Minutes After Enzo Maresca Talks

Norway will manage Erling Haaland’s minutes carefully during a demanding UEFA Nations League window, with head coach Stale Solbakken already planning for the striker to receive a more significant rest later in the season.

Solbakken has spoken with Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca about protecting Haaland after a summer in which the 26-year-old had little time to reset following the World Cup. Norway face four Nations League matches in 12 days, beginning with Denmark at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo.

Quick facts

• Norway have four Nations League games in 12 days against Denmark, Portugal and Wales.
• Haaland is not expected to complete 90 minutes in each of the four matches.
• He returned to Manchester on August 11 after just over four weeks away following the World Cup.
• Solbakken and Enzo Maresca have discussed using domestic League Cup periods to give the forward rest.
• The Norway coach regards November, December and January as the key period for Haaland’s recovery.

Solbakken said Haaland remains in good condition at present, but believes the player’s workload must be controlled across club and international football. The Norway manager travelled to England for a direct discussion with Maresca, with both coaches agreeing that planned absences during League Cup windows could help preserve the forward’s level over the longer campaign.

“November, December and January are when he needs a break,” Solbakken said. “That is why I went over now, because it matters to me that we do not take that break now. They know that he will need to rest at some point.”

Haaland has himself acknowledged the mental challenge of entering a new season without a conventional pre-season programme. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said the compressed turnaround after the World Cup celebrations had left him with only a little more than four weeks of holiday before reporting back in Manchester.

The striker said his physical level should improve provided he stays free of injury, but stressed that recovery is not solely a conditioning issue. He said he had never previously started a campaign without a full pre-season and felt additional time off would have helped him return mentally fresher.

“A new season has started without me having a pre-season,” Haaland said. “The physicality will come, as long as I’m injury-free. But you also have to be mentally sharp, and that is not easy.”

Solbakken will assess Haaland’s involvement game by game during the upcoming international programme rather than committing him to four full appearances. The coach’s immediate task is to lead Norway through a condensed set of fixtures while ensuring their leading forward is not pushed beyond a manageable physical load.

Norway’s preparations are now centred on the visit of Denmark in Oslo, with Portugal and Wales also awaiting during the 12-day spell. The longer-term plan, however, is for club and country to keep coordinating Haaland’s schedule before the winter months arrive.