Pep Guardiola refuses Erling Haaland suggestion despite 'so sorry' admission

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Pep Guardiola admits he's "so sorry" - but he just can't afford to give Erling Haaland any more rest.

Nobody has started more games for City or played more minutes this season than Haaland, who has also played all but one minute of Norway's four World Cup qualifiers since June. But the Norwegian goal machine is simply too important to Manchester City to be afforded any time off in the Premier League or Champions League during what is gearing up to be a gruelling 13-month season for the striker.

His only night off for City so far has been in the Carabao Cup win over Huddersfield . It's likely he'll get another when they face Swansea in the fourth round next week. Haaland's season started in June in the Club World Cup and is likely to end in the United States next summer too, with Norway on course for a first World Cup appearance in 28 years thanks to Haaland's goals.

When all is said and done, it's likely he will have played over 70 games this term. But while his national boss Stale Solbakken would like him to get a couple more breaks during the season, Guardiola simply can't make a case for resting his main man - and will only do so if the title is wrapped up early.

"I’m so sorry for my colleague Stale Solbakken from the national team of Norway but I’m not thinking about that," said Guardiola. "Maybe at the end when we win the Premier League 10 points in front and 10 fixtures from the end he’ll take a rest.

"Now he feels fit, he feels fine. There are games when he might look tired and he isn’t going to play. We are in a position right now, Champions League is massively important, the games we’ve played so far and the next two games at home will give us a really, really big chance to finish in the first eight."

And Guardiola admits that when he looks at his Premier League title rivals, he doesn't see much room for error for his side as they battle Liverpool and Arsenal in hope of regaining their crown.

"In the Premier League, I don’t have the feeling Arsenal are going to drop many points, that is a reality," said Guardiola. "Now Liverpool lose their last few games in the league, but I saw them against United, they had incredible chances to win the game, I think Liverpool remain one of the main favourites. Three or four points at this stage is nothing.

"I have the feeling both teams will lose few points and that’s why we have to be there."