Manchester City’s FIFA Club World Cup campaign has come to an end.
Pep Guardiola hoped the tournament would be a positive way to kick off a new era at the Manchester club after a disappointing 2024/25 season; however, things have not gone to plan for the legendary coach, as the Premier League giants were defeated 4-3 by Al Hilal on Monday night in the United States.
Simone Inzaghi was full of praise for Guardiola ahead of their clash, but it would be the Italian who would come out on top, highlighting that City still have many problems heading into the new Premier League season.
Bernardo Silva believes a big problem from last season remains, and the Portuguese star is one of many associated with Man City who hopes it is corrected over the coming weeks.
Bernardo Silva celebrates a goal for Manchester City v Al-Hilal at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images
Bernardo Silva highlights Man City transition struggles
Silva opened the scoring for Man City against Al Hilal, and it looked like the Premier League outfit would go on to win the game from there as Guardiola’s men had several chances to increase their lead after.
However, the Saudi Pro League club would equalise just after the halftime break and would punish City during transitions throughout the second half and into extra-time.
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Man City fans have been critical of Ederson after their recent defeat; however, Silva believes the Manchester club need to work on controlling transitions better, which was a big problem for Guardiola’s team last season.
“Especially controlling transitions because the ball we had again, the chances we had again. After all, we scored three and could’ve scored five, six,” Silva told DAZN after Man City’s defeat to Al Hilal.
“It was all about controlling when we lost the ball, controlling the transitions, don’t let them run, and they ran way too many times! With one, two passes, there was always a feeling of danger coming from them. When we allow teams to run like this, we always suffer a lot, and today was the case.”
Man City have been a much more entertaining side to watch in recent weeks compared to last season, but this big weakness remains, which will need to be corrected if Guardiola’s men are to challenge for the Premier League this season.
Manchester City squad wants to win titles again
Last season was rare in the career of Guardiola as it was one of the only campaigns where the legendary coach would fail to win a major title.
Man City recruited Tijjani Reijnders and three other stars ahead of the Club World Cup in order to help them get back to competition at the top of the Premier League again, with Silva stating after the Al Hilal defeat that the Manchester club’s ambition for the new season is to win titles again.
“Hopefully, try to fight again for titles, that’s the aim, that’s the ambition of this club always since I arrived,” the Man City captain told DAZN. “We’re going to work a lot to get better in some things and improve, to be able to fight for titles. That’s our main goal.”
The coming weeks will be key for Man City in many ways as Guardiola will need to make sure his squad is ready for the start of the Premier League, while off the pitch, new recruitments are likely to arrive at the Etihad Stadium.