Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed satisfaction with his team's performance following their opening FIFA Club World Cup victory over Wydad AC, highlighting several encouraging aspects of the 2-0 win in Philadelphia.
The Manchester City boss was particularly effusive in his praise for Phil Foden, who played a pivotal role in the victory by scoring the fastest goal in FIFA Club World Cup history just two minutes into the match, before later providing the assist for Jeremy Doku's strike. "Phil's performance today exemplified what we're trying to achieve in this tournament," Guardiola noted in his post-match press conference.
Despite the positive result, Guardiola's reaction at full-time suggested there were still areas for improvement, especially after Rico Lewis's late dismissal. However, the manager chose to focus on the broader picture of the team's preparation for this expanded tournament, noting the extensive groundwork laid months in advance.
The Catalan tactician emphasised the significance of Manchester City's participation in the newly formatted 32-team tournament, acknowledging the club's thorough preparation that began as early as March 2025 with training ground site visits. "We've approached this competition with the utmost seriousness, and today's performance reflects our commitment to adding this trophy to our cabinet," Guardiola stated.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the group stage, where the Sky Blues are considered favourites alongside Juventus, Guardiola remained cautiously optimistic about their chances of progressing to the latter stages. The manager's comments reflected the team's ambition to reach the final at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025.
In his closing remarks, Guardiola emphasised the importance of maintaining high standards throughout the tournament, while also touching on broader values of respect and decency in the game. The victory marks an ideal start to Manchester City's campaign in the prestigious competition, with the team demonstrating both their tactical prowess and technical superiority against the African champions.