Every team that faces Manchester City faces the ultimate question: how to stop Erling Haaland? It’s probably one of the most difficult tasks in the sport. Halting such a dominant striker requires over 90 minutes of concentration, tactical awareness, speed, and strength. The 22-year-old striker scored 42 goals in his 36 appearances this season, which tells a lot about how he adapted to life in the Premier League. Although he missed City’s recent victory over Liverpool, Haaland has returned to training this week and is expected to be fit to face Southampton at St Mary’s this weekend. And that puts the Saints’ boss Ruben Selles and his defenders in a tricky situation.##NAJAVA_MECA_7161267##However, Selles disagreed that his team could only hope and prey to stave off City and, ultimately, relegation from the Premier League. Besides, there are so many players on Pep Guardiola’s side who could hurt you.”We don’t work with hope. We work with facts and with situations that we can control better. I don’t think one person can change the dynamic of a team on their own. One person can change the dynamic of a team when the other 10 are doing their jobs properly. The fact that Man City now has Haaland makes their system slightly better. They have Ruben Dias in the build-up, Ederson’s long distribution and Kevin De Bruyne in the half-spaces. Rodri as a central player. They make it possible for Erling. So we don’t focus on only him. If Erling is there, we will play against him but if not they have a World Cup winner with Argentina. We respect them but have our way of doing things.”🗣️ “We don’t work with hope, we work with facts. If Erling [Haaland] is there, then good. If not they have the striker that won the World Cup.”Rubén Sellés says Southampton have to be tactical to stop Erling Haaland rather than just hoping he has an off day. 🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/YZBiUttoVM— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 6, 2023 Selles confirmed important pair Che Adams and Mohammed Salisu will not be available to face the champions. Adams and Salisu both missed out on last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at West Ham United, following minor injuries picked up on international duty. Armel Bella-Kotchap also remains sidelined with a recurrence of his shoulder injury, while right-back Tino Livramento is on his way back soon and Juan Larios will miss the rest of the campaign.City won 4-0 in the reverse fixture in the Premier League at Etihad Stadium this campaign but Saints knocked City out of the EFL Cup quarter-final under Nathan Jones in January.PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 30Saturday14:30: (1.50) Man.Utd. (4.20) Everton (6.75)17:00: (1.65) Aston Villa (3.70) Nott.Forest (5.60)17:00: (3.70) Brentford (3.50) Newcastle (2.15)17:00: (2.90) Fulham (3.15) West Ham (2.75)17:00: (1.95) Leicester (3.60) Bournemouth (4.20)17:00: (2.65) Tottenham (3.25) Brighton (2.75)17:00: (3.90) Wolverhampton (3.40) Chelsea (2.00)19:30: (11.0) Southampton (6.00) Man.City (1.25)Sunday16:00: (2.15) Leeds (3.45) Crystal Palace (3.70)18:30: (2.80) Liverpool (3.50) Arsenal (2.60)***odds are subject to change***
