Subscribe to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter and receive it in your inbox at no cost.
Subscribe to Miguel Delaney’s weekly newsletter at no cost.
Pep Guardiola expressed his joy and anticipation for Manchester City’s participation in the upcoming Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The champions in the highest division will enter the competition following a decline in performance, losing points in five out of their last six games in the Premier League, which has resulted in them ranking fourth in the standings.
After participating in Club World Cup games on Tuesday and Friday, they will not resume playing in the league until December 27. This break could potentially create a significant distance between them and the top team in the league standings.
After witnessing his team tie 2-2 against Crystal Palace at their home game on Saturday, Guardiola was questioned about whether the tournament in Saudi Arabia was poorly timed for City. He responded by saying, “No – we are excited to participate in the (Club) World Cup.”
In order to qualify, you must win the Champions League. I am thrilled and eager to compete and emerge victorious, naturally.
The schedule and results are what they are, and you must simply accept them.
I am extremely happy and eager to attend and attempt to win, naturally.
Pep Guardiola’s thoughts on the Club World Cup:
Guardiola emphasized the importance of City winning games and being self-reliant in the current league situation.
Before Saturday’s game, they tied 4-4 against Chelsea, tied 1-1 against Liverpool, tied 3-3 against Tottenham, and lost 1-0 to Aston Villa before ultimately winning 2-1 against Luton.
During the matches against Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Crystal Palace, Manchester City allowed late equalizing goals. This occurred on Saturday when City was leading 2-0 and Jean-Philippe Mateta scored a goal for the visiting team in the 76th minute. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Michael Olise tied the score with a penalty kick.
When questioned about their inability to secure victories, Guardiola stated that he would like to know the reason. He also mentioned that if they had not conceded a penalty, the game would have been won. He emphasized the need to better manage the final minutes, especially when leading by a narrow margin of 2-1.
The upcoming match between City and Urawa Red Diamonds in Saudi Arabia will be held on Tuesday, followed by the final and third-place play-off on Friday.
It’s
“The Champions League is of greater importance, without a doubt,” stated Guardiola.
“We must be present in order to participate in this tournament that is new to us. We will travel to the location and assess the atmosphere before facing Urawa, giving our best effort to earn a spot in the final.”
“Undoubtedly, it’s wonderful. In the past, it seemed impossible to reach that point, but now we have achieved it.”
Source: independent.co.uk
