City Begins Club World Cup with a Win, Ranked Second in Group G

Manchester City’s head coach, Pep Guardiola, admitted on Saturday that capturing the FIFA Club World Cup wouldn’t compensate for what he views as a subpar 2024–25 season.

City was unable to secure a fifth successive Premier League title, finishing third in the standings. Before City’s Group G match against Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates, Guardiola stated that recent performances have not lived up to their standards.

Their journey in Europe was also a letdown, with the team being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League in the knockout round playoffs against Real Madrid.

In discussions with the international press, Guardiola clarified that securing another trophy will not make up for a disappointing season, despite having the chance to win more silverware.

“I’ve mentioned multiple times that this season hasn’t been up to par,” Guardiola stated. “Triumphing in this tournament won’t change that. However, my current focus is not solely on winning; it’s also about prolonging our presence here and striving to compete for as long as we can.”

Guardiola, who has previously led teams to four Club World Cup titles, guided City to their first world title in 2023. City, who defeated Wydad Casablanca of Morocco 2–0 in their opening match, can guarantee a spot in the round of 16 with a victory over Al-Ain, who experienced a significant 5–0 loss to Juventus in their initial game.

Guardiola further expressed his desire for his players to perform at their peak in the tournament, highlighting its infrequency, as it occurs once every four years.

“Now that we are participating, I want to give it our best effort. I want to savor this occasion, as this opportunity arises only once every four years… and my aim is to advance to the later stages,” Guardiola concluded.