Why Erling Haaland didn't play for Man City in Tottenham Carabao Cup defeat

Manchester City travelled to Tottenham with just 14 senior outfield options and left with three fewer. But Erling Haaland remained wrapped up on the bench for the Carabao Cup defeat.

Haaland earned a rest in the cup and did not warm up once as City needed a goal to send the tie to penalties. Matheus Nunes had pulled a goal back after Timo Werner and Pape Sarr had put Tottenham in control, before City tried in vain to rescue their Carabao Cup hopes.

Pep Guardiola saw City begin the game with six senior players out, and watched Manu Akanji limp out of the warm-up with a calf issue. Savinho was substituted off on a stretcher in the second half, while Josko Gvardiol received treatment on the pitch at full-time.

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That could leave City with just 11 fit, senior outfield options - including Haaland - and Guardiola explained that the striker was never going to enter the action despite travelling with the squad and watching from the bench.

"The plan was before that he wouldn't play," he said. "The game against Southampton was so demanding and it's going to come and I didn't want to take risks with him today in this competition."

Speaking to Sky Sports, he added: "The plan was not to play today. He plays a lot of minutes, we need him for this week. We have not much recovery and not much players. I didn't want to waste energy for him."

On City's injury problems, Guardiola bemoaned the crisis as the worst he has experienced in his nine seasons at the Etihad - adding: "It is what is is, it's normal. Playing 11 months, the limit of the players is there. 11 players will be in Bournemouth."