by 
Manchester City have been knocked out of the Club World Cup following a surprising defeat to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in the last 16, held in the United States. The team, managed by Pep Guardiola, is set to return to Manchester on Tuesday night, bringing an abrupt end to a tournament that held high expectations but ended in disappointment.
Despite the loss, Guardiola remained reflective, telling BBC Sport: “We’ve been on an incredible journey together and were in a good place. The vibe was really good. But we go home and now it’s time to rest – rest our minds for the new season.” The trip to Florida initially seemed to rejuvenate the squad after a challenging season, but defensive frailties were exposed against Al-Hilal. New signings showed promise, with Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders adding energy and French forward Rayan Cherki scoring in the group stage and assisting Phil Foden’s extra-time goal. However, concerns remain over the defence, particularly Algerian full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri’s defensive lapses and midfielder Matheus Nunes’ struggles at right-back. The lack of pace in central defence was also evident, with Al-Hilal’s quick forwards exploiting City’s backline. Guardiola highlighted the need to trim the squad and address defensive issues, with questions lingering over England international John Stones, who saw no playing time in the tournament, and midfielder Rodri, who may have suffered an injury setback after being substituted in extra time. Financially, the tournament was rewarding, with City earning approximately £37.8m, including a £27.9m participation fee and nearly £1.5m per group-stage win. This offsets the £31m spent on Ait-Nouri and £30.5m on Cherki. Had City progressed further, they could have earned an additional £9.5m for reaching the quarter-finals or £53.8m for winning the tournament. The defeat marks the end of a gruelling season, with City playing 61 matches since August – equalling their highest total under Guardiola. Key players like Reijnders, Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva have been heavily involved, with Reijnders logging 4,861 minutes last season, among the highest in Europe’s top leagues. The team conceded 78 goals this term, their worst defensive record under Guardiola, compared to 46 in their 2022-23 Treble-winning campaign. City’s players will now take a four-week break before pre-season, with their Premier League campaign starting against Wolves on 16 August. Plans for pre-season friendlies remain unclear, but the focus will be on addressing squad issues and preparing for a fresh start. Chelsea remain the only Premier League side in the Club World Cup, having earned over £40m after defeating Benfica in the last 16.
