Manchester City fans were treated to two player debuts last night at the Club World Cup, with Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki both starting against Wydad AC.
Pep Guardiola only snapped up the pair last week, but threw them both straight in against the Moroccan side.
Rayan Ait-Nouri was made to wait for his debut, after being left on the bench.
Manchester City ran out 2-0 winners with Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku on target for Pep Guardiola’s side.
That puts them second in their Group G table, after Juventus thrashed Al Ain 5-0.
City are intent on winning the Club World Cup following a very poor 2024/25 season, which culminated in a third-placed finish in the Premier League and no trophies.
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City have done some smart and efficient business so far this summer, and Reijnders and Cherki both checked in with fans after making their first appearances last night.
Tijjani Reijnders sends message to Man City fans after debut vs Wydad AC
Tijjani Reijnders playing for Manchester City at the Club World Cup against Wydad AC.
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
There is great excitement about Reijnders.
Last season, there were major problems for City in midfield in the absence of Rodri, with teams carving Guardiola’s side open with ease.
City also didn’t have many other sources of goals aside from Erling Haaland.
So City addressed this by landing Reijnders, who is an all-action midfielder with technical quality and physicality.
Last night, these traits were on display, as he produced a dominant first display in a City shirt. A number of Man City fans praised Reijnders for his performance against Wydad AC.
Of course, the level of opposition was nowhere close to what he will face week in week out in the Premier League. But it was a promising showing from the Dutchman, regardless.
After the game, Reijnders took to Instagram to say: “Happy with my first outing as a 𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙚 and getting the job done in our #FIFACWC opener. 🩵🫡”
Rayan Cherki also posts on Instagram after making Man City debut vs Wydad AC
City fans also got their first glimpse of Cherki last night.
The Frenchman is another player supporters are buzzing to watch, after he shone for Lyon in 2024/25 and regularly amazed people with his abundance of tricks.
Media outlets weren’t too impressed by Cherki’s Man City debut against Wydad, with the suggestion being that there were flashes of quality, but ultimately, he was unremarkable.
Cherki only just signed, and will need to get up to speed with how the team plays. A number of Man City fans rightly called for patience with Cherki after the win over Wydad AC.
But he’s ready for the challenge, and after last night’s game, he told fans on Instagram: “First @fifaclubworldcup game and first win 🩵 We keep going 💪.”