Manchester City have the chance to win the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time on Friday. However, because the Citizens have had to complete a marathon program recently, coach Pep Guardiola has put together a plan
Manchester City have played six games in three weeks, including a Champions League trip to Belgrade and now a trip to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup. In the league, the Cititzens have also shown strong fluctuations of late with just one win from four games (plus two draws and a defeat).
Coach Pep Guardiola’s team also struggled in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup. However, an own goal against Urawa Red Diamonds got the favorites back on track, before a double strike after the restart finally turned their dominance into goals. The next game is already scheduled for Friday, the final against Fluminense Rio de Janeiro.
Sleeping through to success?
In view of the tight schedule, Guardiola immediately focused on recovery after the 3-0 win: “The plan is to sleep, sleep and sleep again! That’s our plan. The pitch conditions weren’t really good, to be honest.”
Opponents Fluminense are already in the regeneration phase and were also able to take another look at ManCity. The team of ex-Real Madrid player Marcelo, who scored the decisive penalty, had won 2-0 against Al-Ahly on Monday evening. “They have an extra day’s rest”, Guardiola also remarked, but emphasized that winning the Club World Cup “is a title that the club does not yet have”. There is still “one last step missing”
De Bruyne will miss the final – Haaland cannot train
The long-injured Kevin De Bruyne will not be able to take part in the final on Friday. “Kevin started training yesterday and will train with us tomorrow, but it’s been three months, so he can’t play in the final, but he’s getting better.” The Belgian, who suffered a serious thigh injury in mid-August, was at least in the stadium – just like Erling Haaland. The Norwegian attacker, who was taken off the scoresheet at short notice before the semi-final, continues to have problems with a stress reaction in his foot and is therefore “still unable to train”, said his coach.
So time is running out until the final match on Friday. “Substitute” Julian Alvarez, on the other hand, should be more rested. After coming on as a 65th-minute substitute against Urawa Reds, the Argentinian world champion at least had the opportunity to acclimatize to the hot temperatures in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah. The attacker created momentum after his substitution, but failed to score.
Friday’s final will be the last Club World Cup final in the current format before a new format starts next year, in which 32 teams will compete for the title.
