Pep Guardiola has thanked his players and staff for their effort during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
Softfootball reports that the Club World Cup finally had its day of shocks, and none greater than Manchester City’s elimination by the Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, in the kind of defeat that will give Pep Guardiola great cause for concern as his team returns to prepare for the new season.
City exited the tournament at the Round of 16 stage with a 4-3 extra-time defeat to Al-Hilal in Orlando.
The match finished 2-2 at full-time on Monday, but at the end of an eventful extra-time, Marcos Leonardo grabbed the winner and pulled off one of the greatest wins in Middle Eastern football history.
While obviously disappointed, Guardiola used his post-match press conference to highlight the commitment shown by his players and staff since arriving in the US.
“At this stage, they are all difficult games,” he began.
“We allowed them to create transitions but we created a lot and in general we were good.
“It’s a pity. We were in such a good place and I cannot say thank you enough to the staff, how they train and prepare, they have given everything.
“We made a lot of actions and Bounou made incredible saves. Nothing else to say.
“I have the feeling that the team is doing well but we go home and now time to rest and refresh our mind and come back next season.”
The Club’s players and coaches will now take a break before returning to the City Football Academy ahead of the 2025/26 domestic season.
Looking ahead to that challenge, Guardiola says there have been some positive signs from our four matches in this new-look tournament.
“I saw many good things that I didn’t see in the past, especially how we were, the relations between the players and the staff.
“I felt we were happy here and the sessions were really good but the levels here are so high.
“The chances we had, they defended so deep and Bounou made a lot of saves but you have to score and be so clinical.”
Softfootball had earlier reported that Guardiola had slammed Club World Cup scheduling, warning it could negatively affect Manchester City and other top European clubs heading into the new season.
City, who played until the end of May due to the congested Premier League calendar, were only afforded five days of rest before resuming training ahead of their Club World Cup.
Guardiola admitted that the tournament’s placement in the summer schedule leaves little room for rest or proper preparation.
