Manchester City are out of the Club World Cup, after losing 4-3 to Al-Hilal after extra time.
Pep Guardiola had hopes of ending the 2024/25 season with silverware, but City fell short in Orlando.
Hopes were high, as City had won their previous three matches against Wydad AC, Al Ain and Juventus.
But City were made to pay for poor defending against Al-Hilal, with many City fans left unimpressed by Ederson’s performance.
But those in front of him didn’t cover themselves in any glory either, and there is much for Guardiola to consider ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Last night’s game saw Joao Cancelo play against City for the first time since he made an appearance against City while out on loan at Bayern Munich during the 2022/23 season.
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This time, he finished on the winning side – and cameras caught a moment between him and Guardiola just after the final whistle.
Pep Guardiola and Joao Cancelo embrace after Man City lose to Al-Hilal
Joao Cancelo holds his arms aloft.
Photo by Justin Setterfield – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Cancelo joined Al-Hilal from Manchester City last year.
The Portugal international famously had an acrimonious exit from the club, after losing his place midway through the 2022/23 season.
Cancelo joined Bayern midway through the campaign after becoming frustrated over his lack of minutes.
The following season, he played for Barcelona on loan.
Then, last summer, he moved to Saudi outfit Al-Hilal, for whom he has made 38 appearances so far, scoring two goals and making 12 assists.
One of those assists came last night against City in the 4-3 result.
After the game, cameras caught Guardiola and Cancelo hugging on the pitch, which may perhaps surprise some, considering the way the player left.
But clearly, there is no bad blood between the pair.
Cancelo could also be seen in another video clip looking very emotional after Al-Hilal’s win, potentially over the fact that he had put in such a good display against his former club and in front of his former manager.
Pep Guardiola ahead of Manchester City v Wydad AC at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
What Joao Cancelo said about Pep Guardiola spat rumours
Guardiola had said that he was looking forward to seeing Cancelo, in the build up to last night’s game, so perhaps the full-time moment comes as no real shock.
It had previously been suggested that the pair did not see eye to eye at the time of his exit, and that they had had a bust-up.
But Cancelo denied the rumours of a fight back in March, saying (via TNT Sports): “A competitive player, like me, who aspires to win titles, just wants to play. It’s not a question of devaluing my teammates.
“But I thought I deserved to play and he didn’t.
“So we talked, it was a conversation, not a discussion, and we decided that the best thing would be for me to leave this market.
“An opportunity I couldn’t refuse. It was by mutual agreement.
“If City didn’t want to, they wouldn’t let me leave, because I had a contract. I’m very professional, I’ve always given my face for all the clubs.
“I have a difficult personality, yes, but I have never, at any time, disrespected teammates or coaches.”