Defending champions Manchester City finished trophyless and scrambling for Champions League qualification last season.
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Star player: Rodri
Fixtures: Wydad (June 18), Al Ain (June 23), Juventus (June 26)
Manchester City endured a season, just passed, unthinkable only a year ago when Pep Guardiola was leading the expensively assembled unit to an unprecedented fourth consecutive English Premier League title.
In 2023, City claimed five trophies in the calendar year, including finally cracking the Champions League to be crowned kings of Europe.
This last season could not have been a more stark contrast as the defence of their title was left in tatters by a run of form unthinkable for a squad, let alone a team, of City’s strength. Guardiola at one stage described his side as “weak and vulnerable” while his side was on a run of one win in 13 games, of which they lost nine. A defeat by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final capped a campaign to forget for the Cityzens.
Would Guardiola be up for the rebuild, and was that what was required? The answer appears to be “yes” to both questions.
Abdukodir Khusanov and Omar Marmoush were recruited from Lens and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively in January in an immediate response to the downturn in on-field fortunes. It helped in some way with City recovering to secure third spot in the English top flight and Champions League qualification with it.
Three summer signings have since been secured, and more appear to be on the way, while Kevin De Bruyne has been allowed to leave and former club captain – and England international – Kyle Walker could also be on his way.
The FIFA Club World Cup could prove to be the preseason Guardiola needs to kick-start City’s resurgence ahead of the next campaign.
Have Man City ever won the Club World Cup?
City lifted the Club World Cup for the first time as part of their 2023 five-trophy sweep.
Alongside their domestic league and FA Cup double, City won the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup before completing a unique set with the defeat of Brazilian side Flamengo in the Club World Cup.
The latter three titles were all firsts for City, who only just missed out on a sixth trophy that year when they were beaten by Southampton in the English Football League Cup final.
Why are Man City in the Club World Cup?
City may…