FIFA Club World Cup: Manchester City in rude health ahead of Al Hilal showdown

Disappointing barely begins to describe Manchester City’s 2024-25 campaign, but at the FIFA Club World Cup where every game is live and free on DAZN, they continue to show some welcome signs of their old selves.

When Crystal Palace beat them in last month’s FA Cup final, it marked the first season in eight years that Pep Guardiola had failed to win a major trophy at the club.

It was certainly a far cry from the previous campaign, when City rewrote English football history by becoming the first team to win a fourth successive league title.

For a club as ambitious and successful as City, the past season was tantamount to failure, although they did secure their place in next season’s Champions League.

After the pain of losing to Palace at Wembley, finishing third served as a healing balm of sorts as City prepared to cross the pond and win the Club World Cup again.

Since arriving Stateside earlier this month, Guardiola and his men have made themselves at home on and off the pitch.

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City beat Wydad Casablanca 2-0 in their Group G opener and followed that up with a 6-0 demolition of Al Ain.

But by far the greatest statement of intent was Thursday’s 5-2 win over Serie A giants Juventus at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

The swagger of old was back, the kind of mesmerising, exhilaratingly high-tempo football that City have become famous for under Guardiola.

Juventus, a European heavyweight, were thumped as Erling Haaland claimed his 300th career goal, remarkably, aged just 24.

Defender Manuel Akanji spoke earlier this week of how closely the City squad has bonded during their time in America.

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They have played two-touch football on the beach with Guardiola, enjoyed rounds of golf, games of basketball and spent time together in the evenings.

To win a competition as prestigious and lucrative as the newly-expanded Club World Cup does not come easy.

You need a certain kind of spirit. You want the kind of togetherness that sees players pull each other up in the dressing room afterwards for not putting in a shift.

Those kinds of awkward conversations might have happened at times this season as City stuttered and stumbled, but not in recent games. Not since they have been Stateside.

Guardiola’s men head into Tuesday’s Last-16 clash with Al Hilal having won their last five games straight since the FA Cup final defeat on May 17.

Haaland is back amongst the goals, Phil Foden is on fire again, and Rodri’s 60 minutes against Juventus marked his first start since a serious knee injury sidelined him for much of the 2024-25 campaign.

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Crucially, a number of City’s new signings appear to have settled quickly.

Tijjani Reijnders has arrived from AC Milan, Rayan Cherki signed a five-year contract from Lyon Rayan Ait-Nouri joined from Wolves in a significant summer spending spree totalling over £100 million.

After the season they have just endured, City needed a rebuild, particularly with long-serving club icon Kevin De Bruyne leaving the club.

That rebuild is taking shape nicely as Guardiola’s men prepare to head back in Orlando again to face Al Hilal.

Few would bet against City progressing and taking a step closer to their first silverware of 2025.

Watch every match of the 2025 Club World Cup live and free on DAZN. More information and to sign up for a free account here