Manchester City’s 4-3 defeat against Al-Hilal in the last-16 of the FIFA Club World Cup was a reminder that some of their frailties from last season still exist.
Bernardo Silva pinpointed Manchester City’s poor defending when they have to stop counter-attacks, a flaw in the side that was symptomatic of their leaky backline and midfield during the 2024/2025 campaign.
Perhaps Abdukodir Khusanov could help solve Manchester City’s defensive issues as he has the searing pace and athleticism to play in a high line and intense approach to pressing.
After his side’s latest defeat, Pep Guardiola has plenty to ponder over in preparation for the 2025/2026 season.
Man City’s signing of Nico Gonzalez looks questionable after Club World Cup exit
Something Guardiola certainly has to determine is how highly he truly rates Nico Gonzalez.
Manchester City signed Nico for £50 million but he made only one start during the Club World Cup and in just 11 out of a possible 20 matches last season despite being seemingly signed as an emergency defensive midfielder.
NICO GONZALEZ’S PLAYING TIME AT MAN CITY
COMPETITION STARTS
PREMIER LEAGUE 9/14
FA CUP 1/5
FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 1/4
TOTAL 11/23
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While Guardiola may have preferred to prioritise experience over a new signing in his hunt to secure Champions League football last season, the fact that the Spaniard only started against Al-Ain is worrying considering the Club World Cup was the perfect opportunity to track his progress.
Even after taking Ilkay Gundogan off against Al-Hilal, Pep Guardiola chose to task Tijjani Reijnders, who considers himself a number eight in the holding midfield role instead of bringing Nico on.
Granted, the jury is still out on Nico’s suitability to this Manchester City side but it is worth questioning why £50 million was spent to sign a player who Pep Guardiola does not seem to trust yet.
Manchester City FC v Newcastle United FC - Premier League
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Secondly, the former Porto midfielder has had brilliant games against the likes of Newcastle United, Brighton and Fulham unlike a player like Kalvin Phillips, who Manchester City’s coaches doubted as a signing from his early days.
Pep Guardiola called Nico a “mini-Rodri” and revealed his mentality to succeed in England.
Now that Rodri could be injured once again and only time will tell whether he goes on to rediscover the best version of himself, unless his countryman could be relied upon, the signing could be a waste of funds.
What Nico Gonzalez is doing behind the scenes at Man City
Nico is studying Rodri’s game and it seems crystal clear that he would like to earn Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola’s trust, as he revealed: “I try to see all the passes the players don’t see and take as much from him as I can. He was here in America at the Super Bowl [when he joined] and had a couple of weeks off.”
“He helps me a lot, he is Spanish and we are starting to have a good relationship. He has been [back] a couple of months, he is an amazing player and really good in everything that can be good in a midfielder.”
Nico concluded: “I am trying to learn the most I can and I think I am starting to watch him at his best level. I am seeing things that I haven’t seen in a lot of midfielders.”