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After suffering a shock defeat against Al-Hilal in the last 16 of the United States, Manchester City are returning from the Club World Cup.
The squad will return to Manchester on Tuesday night, abruptly bringing a tournament that had promised so much but ended up with a stunning upset.
We have traveled extensively together and are in good health. Manager Pep Guardiola told BBC Sport, “The vibe was really good.
However, we leave and head home, so we can now unwind and recharge.
What did Guardiola discover while traveling?
Their Club World Cup hopes were shattered on Monday night, but City’s Florida base’s sunny climate gave the impression that the team had been so disappointing this season.
All of the new signings had a significant impact on the tournament, and Tijjani Reijnders, a Dutchman, will certainly bring much-needed enthusiasm and enthusiasm to the midfield.
There are significant issues at the other end of the pitch, but France international Rayan Cherki made a brilliant assist in the group stages against Al-Hilal.
Although Algerian full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri has been criticized for his defensive prowess, there are doubts about his ability to defend the country after being occasionally criticized against the Saudis.
Although City managed to squander it in the group stages, the square peg in a round hole was glaringly obvious once faced with respectable opposition.
Before the tournament, sources had not excluded the possibility of the club making a move for a new right-back, so it’s still to be seen if one is made.
Guardiola also needs to address the defense’s lack of pace, with the two central defenders appearing particularly slow when attempting to retake the speedy Al-Hilal forwards.
The Spanish manager has made it clear that he needs to reduce his squad before the new year, and there may be uncertainty about John Stones’ future, who was the only outfield player to miss the trip.
Meanwhile, it’s still to be seen if midfielder Rodri, who was sidelined most of the season, has suffered a setback.
What did City earn?
Even though City lost out on extra prize money with their last-16 exit, the Club World Cup has been a lucrative experience for all those involved.
City, who was the only team to win all three of their games, will leave the US with roughly $ 37.8 million in their bank account. They will also earn the most in the group stage.
That includes “sporting and commercial criteria” and a participation fee, which is thought to be around £27.9 million.
If Guardiola’s team had advanced to the quarter-finals, they would have won an additional $9.5 million in prize money, with an additional $58.8 million in prize money if they had triumphed.
One of those transfers has already been paid for by City, who paid £31 million for Wolves left-back Ait-Nouri and £35 million for Lyon forward Cherki, who scored in their 5-2 victory over Al Ain.
Time for some rest, folks?
Manchester City’s squad now has a chance to recharge before the new season, if there is any consolation.
City has now won 61 games in a season since Guardiola took over as manager in August, which is their highest total total since then.
In the Conference League from 2024 to 2025, Chelsea had the luxury of fielding significantly different line-ups domestically.
Four of the 15 outfield players currently playing for Premier League clubs have played more than 100 games over the past two seasons, including four from Manchester City, who have a smaller squad.
They are new signing Tijjani Reijnders (107), Ilkay Gundogan (105), Phil Foden (102) and Bernardo Silva (101).
Additionally, that quartet continued to play international football with the exception of Gundogan, who was a regular starter for their country at Euro 2024.
A season that began 325 days ago, with the Community Shield against Manchester United on August, came to an end with Al-Hilal’s defeat.
City’s lowest total since 2008-09, with 17 losses overall, which is at least five more than in any other season since Guardiola’s appointment.
City’s 131 goals were scored in 61 games, but their Club World Cup exit defensive errors have grown more frequent.
When will the pre-season begin for City?
Before returning to the club to begin the pre-season, City players will take a four-week break before returning.
After three weeks in the USA, it will be interesting to see what plans are put in place for friendly competitions before the new campaign.
Will City Football Academy play domestic games against it to maintain its lightness? Could they make a quick trip to Europe?
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