Although Pep Guardiola often dislikes taking lengthy travels in order to fit extra games into an already full schedule, he could see the FIFA Club World Cup as a gift from above.
Guardiola, if required by FIFA, is a winner, no doubt. After Manchester City’s victory over Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, the team will have the opportunity to claim the title of world’s best club team and win a fifth trophy in 2023 when they play Brazilian team Fluminense at the same stadium on Friday.
However, the advantages of visiting Saudi Arabia in December can go beyond just stocking the cabinet with more cutlery. With only one victory in their previous six Premier League games, City has come to Jeddah at a difficult moment. Maybe training in the warm, humid weather of the Middle East for a week may prove to be a beneficial chance for you to recuperate and rejuvenate.
The 2022 AFC Champions League champions Urawa Reds were predicted to lose to City, and they did it with ease. But although they utterly controlled the game, there was also a sense of that old swagger coming back. Guardiola’s men had 13 shots and over 80% of the possession in the first half alone, while Urawa Reds could not to generate a single effort.
The Japanese side just about made it over the midway point. And this was the ideal remedy if City felt weak in any way after their dismal recent performance. Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, and an own goal kept the score at 3-0, but it might have easily been five or six if City had found the will to shift out of second gear. It was also the first clean sheet in nine games, which may have been even more significant to Guardiola.
Though the South American champions were second best for most of their semifinal match against Al Ahly FC on Monday, Fluminense will provide a tougher challenge on Friday. There isn’t anything to be concerned about for Guardiola.
Guardiola said, “This is the first time Manchester City has been here.” “I’m thrilled to be competing against Fluminense in the final as a representative of this amazing club. We go for it since it’s the final chance to win the championship and the only one the team lacks.”
What impact City’s participation in the tournament may have on the Premier League championship chase is the more important issue. After a dismal 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, they were five points behind leaders Arsenal and fourth in the standings on Saturday night as they departed the United Kingdom.
With Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa all playing this weekend, they could already be farther behind by the time they go home, but past performance indicates that a break from the grind of domestic football isn’t always a bad thing for a side fighting for the championship. After a slow start to the 1999 treble winners’ season, which saw them ranked fourth after 12 games, Manchester United participated in the first-ever Club World Cup in 2000.
While United did not advance past their group in the Brazil tournament, they did have the chance to take a break from the Premier League. When they returned, rejuvenated and renewed, they dominated the second half of the season, losing just one match while winning 11 in a row to win the championship by 18 points.
When Silva was questioned about City’s ability to win big during a press conference on Monday, the Portugal midfielder carefully fixed his microphone and said, “Do you doubt us?” City has a history of winning big. Even if Liverpool and Arsenal seem to be strong candidates for the championship, it would be folly to discount a squad that has won the Premier League five times in the previous six years.
The players at City will get the day off on Wednesday and then enjoy supper as a squad. Guardiola said, “It’s really important that we be together.” “You go to training and then you go home for the season. We spend more time here. Not in the training sense. We save our energies for game day. Rest, massage, and get plenty of rest. This is the most crucial element.”
On December 27, City will likely be in better form than when they departed to resume their league campaign against Everton at Goodison Park. While Kevin De Bruyne, who hasn’t played since the first weekend of the season due to hamstring surgery, was allowed to resume training on Monday, Rúben Dias and Julián Álvarez were both rested against Urawa Reds.
Although De Bruyne won’t be involved in any games in Saudi Arabia, his return is imminent. Although legendary striker Erling Haaland has also been disqualified from the competition, there is always optimism that he might be able to play against Everton.
It would come as no surprise to anybody if City won the Club World Cup on Friday, after ten consecutive victories in Europe. Most importantly, however, is that their journey may lead to further awards at the conclusion of the season.
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