Norway Coach Denies Man City Interference Over Haaland Media Snub

Norway head coach Stale Solbakken has strongly denied that Manchester City had any involvement in pulling Erling Haaland from media duties, dismissing suggestions of outside interference as a lie.

Haaland had originally been scheduled to speak to reporters on Saturday ahead of Norway's Nations League match against Portugal, but was replaced at the media session by teammates Fredrik Aursnes and Andreas Schjelderup. The timing, coming shortly after news broke of Manchester City's guilty verdict in their Premier League financial charges case, led to speculation that City had asked Norway to keep Haaland away from questions about the club's situation.

Solbakken moved quickly to shut that down, telling VG the decision had nothing to do with City.

"I haven't spoken to anyone at Manchester City about the media since Erling was to move from Dortmund to City," he said. "That was the last time I spoke to City about the media."

He was clear that the call to excuse Haaland from media duties was entirely his own. "It's a lie. It also undermines my integrity," Solbakken said. "I go to great lengths to be honest because this is the people's national team. I try to give my all and that of the team."

He also described how casually the decision came about. "This was a decision I made without informing Erling," he said. "I just said: 'You can let this go. If you want to go, then you go. But for me you are exempt'."

Whatever the noise off the pitch, Haaland didn't seem affected on it. He started Sunday's match in Oslo and scored his third goal of the international break, though it wasn't enough to prevent Norway losing 2-1 to Portugal. After the final whistle, he was seen chatting with his City teammate Ruben Dias.

Haaland's international commitments continue beyond this, with Norway still to face Wales twice and a reverse fixture against Portugal still to come in this Nations League campaign. Once that's done, his focus will shift quickly back to club football, with Manchester City facing a tough trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool when the Premier League resumes.