Guardiola says Club World Cup glory won’t erase last season’s disappointment

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists that winning the Club World Cup will not compensate for the club’s underwhelming 2024-25 season, during which they failed to lift a major trophy for the first time in eight years.

Speaking ahead of City’s clash with UAE side Al-Ain in Atlanta, Guardiola acknowledged that despite their Community Shield triumph, their third-place Premier League finish and early exits from both the Champions League and FA Cup were not up to standard.

City, along with Chelsea, are representing England in the expanded Club World Cup being held in the United States. After opening Group G with a win over Moroccan champions Wydad AC, another victory on Sunday would secure their place in the last 16.

However, Guardiola maintains that the tournament, while important, does not erase the setbacks of the previous campaign. “The disappointment was the Champions League. Winning this competition is not going to change that,” he said.

Guardiola, who has won the Club World Cup four times as a manager, stressed the cultural contrast between continents in terms of how the tournament is perceived. 

Meanwhile, he addressed speculation over potential player departures, reiterating his preference for a smaller squad.

He left Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, and Kalvin Phillips out of the tour squad while Mateo Kovacic was injured, and James McAtee was also not selected. With Ilkay Gundogan linked to Galatasaray, Guardiola admitted that “step by step, maybe a few players are going to move.”

Despite the uncertainty, the Spaniard emphasized his respect for the current group but warned of the dangers of discontent among fringe players. “The problem is they will be unhappy during the season. They will be sad, they will be disappointed,” he explained. “That’s why we have to see what happens before the transfer window closes.”

Manchester City will open their Premier League season in August away at the Molineux against Wolves.