Manchester City Imposes Its Law Against Juventus in the Club World Cup
In a pre-match press conference at Camping World Stadium, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola was asked about the crucial match against Juventus. Guardiola responded: “Our real opponents start now.” Although respectful of Wydad AC and Al Ain, it was clear that Juventus represented the first real test for City in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The team not only passed the test, but exceeded expectations, demonstrating their intention with an impressive 5-2 victory. If City wasn’t one of the favorites before, they certainly are now.
While Juventus contributed to their own defeat with defensive errors, including a strange own goal by Pierre Kalulu, City played their part with movement, rhythm, and energy, reminiscent of Guardiola’s team that dominated the Premier League between 2021 and 2024.
This performance made many wonder: When was the last time City showed this level? Perhaps in the 6-0 victory over Ipswich Town in January, or in the 4-0 triumph over Newcastle United in February? In any case, it’s been a while.
Since his arrival in the United States, Guardiola has emphasized the idea of a new beginning, leaving behind the disappointing previous season. This was the first evidence that his wishes are coming true.Coach Guardiola commented: “The players felt, for the first time in a long time, that we played as we know how. In the previous two games we won, but today we adjusted some things and the performance was really good. I am very happy because the most important thing is that the players realize what we have to do to be the team we were in the last decade.”
“I have the feeling that last season we had an incredible squad and team, but 50% of the players were injured, which meant that we lowered our level and couldn’t compete. This season we will try to maintain this pace for as long as possible.”
After victories over Wydad AC and Al Ain with two different starting elevens, it was difficult to assess City’s level. However, against Juventus, Guardiola chose a stronger team, including Rúben Dias and Rodri in the starting eleven.
It was Rodri’s first match since his knee surgery in September, and his impact was notable. According to the coach, Rodri could take months to reach the level that crowned him the best player in the world in October. However, his performance showed that he hasn’t lost much in terms of quality and quick thinking. In the 65 minutes he played, his movement was excellent and his passing even better.
“We miss him a lot,” Guardiola said. “He knows exactly what he has to do. I didn’t expect him to play so many minutes.”
Rodri was accompanied by the new captain Bernardo Silva and the signing Tijjani Reijnders. There were moments last season when City seemed to lack energy in midfield. However, even in the Florida heat, which reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit before a mid-game rain, this was not a problem. Bernardo was everywhere, appearing in every space on the field. Reijnders was a tireless runner from midfield and fantastic with the ball. It was the Dutch midfielder’s pass to Matheus Nunes, advancing from the right wing, that set up City’s third goal, scored by Erling Haaland, who came on as a substitute at halftime.
Additionally, Rayan Aït-Nouri was exceptional. For the first time in four years, Guardiola has a specialist left-back in his team, and in less than 10 minutes, the Algerian had created two chances. The second was scored by Jérémy Doku, who also impressed.
The list continues. Omar Marmoush led the attack well in the first half, and Savinho scored an impressive fifth goal. At the other end, Ruben Dias successfully handled Dusan Vlahovic’s aggressiveness. The only negative point was a bad pass from Éderson that allowed Teun Koopmeiners to momentarily equalize the score at 1-1. It was the closest Juventus got.
When City was at its lowest point last season, it traveled to Turin to face the Italian giants in the Champions League and lost 2-0. The jerseys had the same crest, but they seemed a shadow of the team that had dominated English football for almost a decade. Although it is still early in Guardiola’s rebuilding process and in this competition, for the first time in a long time, a glimpse of their former glory could be glimpsed.
“It’s been a long time since we had a performance like that both with and without the ball,” Guardiola said. “The players were committed and we are happy to beat a top team.”
Pep Guardiola
“This is just a game, but I think the players felt again what it’s like to be a good team. Confidence always comes from your performances, not your past.”
