Jamie Carragher is not convinced by claims that Erling Haaland wasn't fit enough to start in Manchester City's crunch Champions League tie with Real Madrid.
The Norway striker, 24, was an injury doubt heading into Wednesday night's play-off fixture at the Bernabeu after coming off in City's big 4-0 win over Newcastle at the weekend.
City knew that only another statement win would do in Madrid after falling to a late 3-2 defeat at The Etihad last week. But Haaland was an unused substitute as a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick sent the Premier League champions crashing out of Europe's premier knockout competition.
Guillem Balague explained on CBS Sports earlier in the evening that Haaland had told Pep Guardiola on Wednesday morning that he wasn't fit enough to start the huge match on after jarring his knee.
But Carragher wasn't having that theory and suggested maybe Haaland was, in fact, reluctant to play against the returning Antonio Rudiger.
"So let me work this out," Carragher said just before kick-off. "Haaland has gone to the manager this morning and said he’s not fit? Do you think that’s got something to do with Rudiger? Is that because Rudiger is playing?
"He’s on the bench so he can’t be injured. I never went to see the manager on the morning of a game and said I’m not fit. So he’s injured, is he? It’s Rudiger-itis is it? Is that what we’re saying here?"
Micah Richards, though, scotched Carragher's theory, claiming it was "nonsense". The former City defender replied: "Look at him, look at his narratives. It’s just nonsense. Come on Jamie, you’re better than that, you’re better than that."
Haaland could only watch on from the bench as City went on to lose 3-1. A superb hat-trick from Mbappe put the tie beyond them, as Real Madrid romped to a 6-3 win on aggregate to advance to the Last 16.
Despite a disappointing defeat on the night, Pep Guardiola insisted he had no complaints with City's early exit from Europe post-match, telling TNT Sports: "After we conceded the goal in the first action we didn't defend well, it was more and more difficult. We have to accept it, the best team won so congratulations to Real Madrid. Now we focus on the Premier League.
"It's a fantastic team, they deserve to go through. We didn't deserve it, it's the first year we didn't make a good Champions League season. We have to accept it and fight for next season to be here again."