Manchester City’s hopes of ending their trophyless 2024/25 campaign with silverware were dashed shockingly as they crashed out of the inaugural Club World Cup in the United States following a 4-3 defeat to Al Hilal.
Their journey came to an abrupt end in the early hours of Tuesday at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
City came into the inaugural club competition with a bag full of goodies to break their trophy-less 2024-2025 season, just as Softfootball reported that Pep Guardiola said, We have given everything for the tournament, before they were ousted by Simeone Inzaghi’s Al Hilal side.
Despite holding a 1-0 lead in the first half, City conceded twice in quick succession after the break, allowing Al Hilal back into the tie.
A late equaliser forced the game into extra time, but it was Ederson’s costly mistake in the 112th minute that gifted Al Hilal the winner. The Brazilian shot-stopper mishandled Marcos Leonardo’s strike, allowing the Saudi side to claim a famous win and send the English champions packing.
City’s exit didn’t sit well with fans, many of whom took to social media to criticise Ederson’s performance. Some labelled his goalkeeping as “shambolic,” while others went as far as comparing him to Manchester United’s Andre Onana. One frustrated supporter even suggested that Ederson should be dropped in America.
leave ederson in america
— OB (@ofbmar) July 1, 2025
Recall that Softfootball reported Guardiola’s concerns about the strain the Club World Cup placed on his squad, warning that it “could ruin our season.” His fears may have come true, as City are now staring at the prospect of ending the season without a single piece of silverware.
While City’s overall performance had its moments, the manner of their defeat, particularly the late collapse, has left fans and pundits questioning the mental fortitude of a side once known for its dominance under Guardiola.
