Norway coach Stale Solbakken shields Erling Haaland from media storm after Man City verdict

Norway head coach Stale Solbakken has taken steps to insulate Erling Haaland from intense media scrutiny during the current international break. The star striker, who was originally scheduled to face the press, was withdrawn from media duties following reports that Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 financial regulation breaches.

Solbakken cited the need to maintain the striker's focus on upcoming Nations League fixtures as the primary reason for the decision. The manager drew parallels to a recent media appearance by Rodri, who was forced to defend the club's integrity, and sought to avoid placing Haaland in a similarly difficult position.

It is of course because we want to concentrate and give him the best possible conditions to concentrate on the match. You all know what the topic has been for the past 24 hours. It has nothing to do with the Nations League and what we are going to do. A good example of that was the press conference Rodri had yesterday. Stale Solbakken

For Solbakken, Haaland’s primary value to the national team is his goal-scoring ability, not his role as a spokesperson for executive club decisions. The manager is adamant that the distraction of the Premier League's investigation should remain outside the national team camp as Norway pursues competitive progression.

In Haaland’s absence, Benfica teammates Fredrik Aursnes and Andreas Schjelderup stepped in to handle media responsibilities. Aursnes noted that the squad received the instruction calmly. While the City situation remains a topic of conversation, the players are attempting to remain detached from the technicalities of the case as they prepare for a high-profile fixture against Portugal.