Coach Pep Guardiola was right when asked about the World Cup Club, and its ability to influence on Man City when the national season started.
“I tried not to think about it, otherwise I would be very worried,” he said. And perhaps it is the best way, because it is almost impossible to plan this for this. Man City certainly prepared as much as possible. Their sports and medical science team will have all the necessary data in hand, but this is the land that has not been completely discovered.
This is the first time Club World Cup has 32 teams held in the summer. The moment the players should have rested, now they have to practice and play in the intense sun in the US. It is true that the World Cup or Euro is also held every 4 years, but not the whole team participates, and those who participate are also eliminated at different times.
This year, the entire Man City squad may have to play until mid -July. The final reward – both in and on the pitch – certainly very valuable, but its influence on the player's body is completely unpredictable. Pep suggested that he would let the players rest after the tournament, then focused on in Manchester to prepare for the Premier League season, starting on August 16.
Before the match against Al Hilal in the round of 1/8, he said: “After the tournament, we will rest on the right time that the Premier League allows. Then each match, each month, we will watch. Maybe in November, December, or January … We will be a disaster. We are exhausted. Club World Cup has exhausted us. I don't know. This is the first time in this life.
This is not an ideal situation for the coach. Do you want two months to prepare for the season? Yes. Do you want to rest to recover completely? Also there. But the truth is that we are here, because of what we have done in the past. And once you come here, try to do the best as possible. “
Guardiola always expressed his desire to win the World Cup championship, as he used to do when Man City was crowned in Saudi Arabia in December 2023. At that time, just playing two matches, and the break between that winter actually helped the whole team regain energy – starting the top -notch form closed with the 4th Premier League title in a row.
This time is different, with positive and negative points that are difficult to measure. The fact that the whole team gathered in the US helped the rookies integrate, the internal relationships were shaped, and the new leaders began to appear. This is also an opportunity for Man City to put aside the disappointment last season. However, the biggest unknown thing is: how will this affect the season starting in August – or when winter approaches.
Will Man City will sublimate when the season starts, thanks to the body is still “hot” after the tournament, while the opponent is still adjusting the rhythm. Or vice versa, will they take time to regain the beat after a few weeks of rest?
And the following question is: Man City will maintain that form for how long? As Guardiola once said before the match against Al Hilal – the decline could come in the winter, when the most dense schedule. The real challenge with Guardiola and the physical team are: Nobody has done this before.
They are in a completely new position, without old data to refer, without precedent to learn from experience, whether successful or failed. Every European team participating in this World Cup Club will have to find their own strategy. Only when the season passes, we know who has chosen the right direction.
And also because of that unknown fear, Guardiola chose to temporarily put it aside.
