With the early stopping at the Club World Cup, Man City is likely to have to change his plan for the season to have the best preparation for the 2025/26 season.
Like other clubs at the 2025 Club, Man City considers this tournament as the pre -season period to heat up the new season. That is why the Green Man tried to recruit recruits as soon as possible to assemble the squad to the US to compete.
In Man City's calculations, they will make the most profound efforts possible at the Club World Cup, considering this to be the perfect momentum before entering the 2025/26 season. After passing the group stage with 3 convincing victories, notably the defeat of Juventus 5-2, the Green Man became more and more confident because they were in the branch that was easy to breathe, avoiding a series of big men like Real Madrid, PSG or Bayern.
However, people are not equal to heaven. Right in the match against Al Hilal in the round of 1/8, Man City was defeated by the opponent with a score of 4-3, one of the most shocking results from the beginning of the tournament until now next to PSG's 0-1 defeat against Botafogo in the group stage.
Back to the victory over Juventus, Man City showed many great things in their best match at this year's Club World Cup. One of the most prominent features of the Green Man in that match was the ability to control the match. It is true that the Serie A representative scored two goals, but they rarely create danger in counterattack situations – something that used to be a frequent weakness of the city last season, and the defense in the middle also proved more solid.
However, only 4 days later, all of that was gone. This time, Man City was caught up in a dramatic match, and then revealed the weaknesses that haunted them last season. Despite Man City's control of the majority of the game, pressing, continuous finishing and many corners, Al Hilal always proved danger whenever had a chance to counterattack.
The need to pick up the ball 4 times has peeled off the limitations of Man City, thereby pushing Pep Guardiola into a difficult situation. Now, when the campaign at the World Cup Club ends early, the Spanish leader will have to decide how long the students should rest and how to prepare for the Premier League season will start in mid -August.
Again, Man City has considered Club World Cup as a pre -season period, but now can they wait for nearly 7 weeks without any match? Looking at the last performance, the Green Man clearly still has a lot of things to adjust before August 16 – the time they will be a guest before Wolves in the first round of the Premier League.
Speaking after the defeat of Al Hilal, Guardiola said, “Now we have to return home and have come to rest, as well as let the mind relax before the new season.” What is the short -term plan, what we will follow, we will have to wait and see. Perhaps, Man City will arrange additional friendly matches when Pep and his students return to the summer vacation, falling around the 5th or 6th week.
Overall, the soon to carry the suitcase back to the country has made Man City's original plan go away. No matter what, the Green Man also needs at least 1 to 2 more heating matches to enter the new season with the cohesion and confidence as possible. Let's wait and see the next move of Guardiola and the students.
