Manchester City has suffered a major setback as star striker Erling Haaland is set to be sidelined for up to seven weeks due to an ankle injury. The Norwegian forward sustained the injury during City's FA Cup quarter-final win over Bournemouth, forcing him off the pitch. Manager Pep Guardiola confirmed the news ahead of their crucial Premier League clash against Leicester City. With Haaland already netting 30 goals in 40 matches this season, his absence poses a significant challenge for City as they push for a strong finish in both the league and European competitions.

With nine games left, City is only one point behind Chelsea in fifth place in the Premier League. Haaland’s injury might have a huge influence on their Champions League qualification aspirations, as the race for a top-four finish remains fierce. In Haaland's absence, Guardiola will now turn to guys like Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez to step up. The manager realizes that the squad needs to come up with new strategies to win games without his star striker, but he is still hopeful about the team's ability to adjust.

Aside from Haaland's injury worries, City supporters have expressed their annoyance at growing ticket costs and a new arrangement with a third-party ticket agency. Outside the Etihad Stadium, protesters have staged demonstrations calling for the team to be more transparent. While supporters have the right to voice their opinions, Guardiola responded to these worries by saying that the team must make choices that support its financial plan.

Despite the recent failures, Manchester City is still optimistic that Haaland will bounce back in time for the FIFA Club World Cup in mid-June. But the team's resiliency will be put to the test over the course of the next two weeks. For Guardiola's team to maintain their hopes of competing in the Premier League and Europe, they must now reassemble and find answers fast.