Haaland fatigue sparks calls for stronger player protection

The 26-year-old was substituted in the 67th minute of Norway’s 2-1 Nations League defeat away to Portugal on Sunday, with his physical condition drawing attention ahead of his return to Premier League duty.

Haaland was among the prominent players who departed shortly after the match by private jet for a brief break before rejoining their clubs.

“He is completely exhausted,” Solbakken said. “Some of my players have had only six or seven days off. And in an ordinary job, you do not depend on your physical condition to earn a living. Then you have to start the season straight away, followed by a mini-tournament, so the strain is enormous.”

“He is among those carrying the heaviest workload — precisely because his team, Manchester City, compete in every competition and he is their key player,” Solbakken added.

Norway midfielder Patrick Berg echoed his coach’s assessment, pointing to Haaland’s involvement throughout the international window.

“He had played all three games for Norway before this one, so it is hardly surprising that he eventually ran out of energy,” Berg said.

Haaland’s schedule has allowed little opportunity for sustained recovery in recent months. 

Norway’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals significantly shortened his summer break, and he has subsequently appeared in every Premier League match for City, scoring five goals.

The striker had already highlighted the relentless turnaround between fixtures after scoring twice in Norway’s 3-2 Nations League victory over Denmark last month.

“So tired. Another game in 70 hours,” he wrote on social media.

The Norwegian players’ association, NISO, has also expressed concern about the increasing demands placed on the country’s leading footballers.

“Over time, we have seen a worrying trend in which the burden placed on top players has become too great,” NISO director Kristoffer Vatshaug said in a statement on Monday. “This has already had consequences for some players. This is serious.”

Vatshaug called for clearer standards covering both match schedules and recovery periods, arguing that the issue extends beyond the number of games alone.

“We want clearer guidelines on workload and recovery time. This concerns the intervals between matches, uninterrupted rest periods, travel fatigue and how much time players are given off after a long season.”

He also stressed that protecting players should not depend solely on their willingness to withdraw from matches.

“We cannot have a system in which protecting players depends on them asking to stop. Footballers want to play football. They want to turn out for their clubs, their national teams and their teammates.”

For Haaland, the immediate recovery window is limited. He has six days before Manchester City resume their Premier League campaign away to Liverpool on Sunday, leaving little time between the end of a demanding international programme and another major club fixture.