Manchester City players were nearly all given a run-out in the Club World Cup and some fared better than others.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: Rodri; Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias of Manchester City talk during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group G match between Juventus FC and Manchester City FC at Camping World Stadium on June 26, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Luciano Bisbal/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: Rodri; Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias of Manchester City talk during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group G match between Juventus FC and Manchester City FC at Camping World Stadium on June 26, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Luciano Bisbal/Getty Images)
Rodri and Bernardo Silva strengthened their Manchester City positions
Manchester City are out of the Club World Cup earlier than they wanted to be. A last-16 defeat to Al Hilal sent them packing after the draw appeared to have opened up for them.
Beating Juventus 5-2 in their final group game saw them avoid Real Madrid in the last-16 and they dominated their Saudi opponents in the first half of their knockout game, only to fall apart and lose 4-3. It leaves Pep Guardiola and his players with plenty to think about as they get some unexpected rest ahead of the new campaign.
There can be plenty who can be happy with their contribution over the past few weeks, enhancing their position within the squad. However, some endured a difficult few weeks to leave questions over their future. Here are the winners and losers from the tournament.
Bernardo Silva - winner
Bernardo Silva looked better across the competition but his victory is more down to his position in the squad. Having entered pre-season as a player whose future was at risk, being made captain by Guardiola has made him one of the most important players.
The Portugal international has put an end to any suggestion that he may leave and has been backed to play a key role this season - however much he features on the pitch.
John Stones - loser
Guardiola apologised to John Stones after the defeat to Al Hilal, saying he wanted to give him minutes but couldn't in the circumstances. It left Stones as the only outfield player in the 27-man squad not to get any game time as he tries to come back from injury.
Stones used his time out in the United States to confirm he wants to stay at the club but by the time the Premier League starts it will be six months since he was last involved in a match.
Tijjani Reijnders - winner
The pick of the summer signings, and probably the pick of the 2025 arrivals full stop. Reijnders looked decent on debut and was excellent in subsequent appearances, settling quickly into the side and looking immensely comfortable in the midfield.
Reijnders was the best midfielder in Serie A last year and looked to pick up for City where he left off for AC Milan as he showed why he is seen as the successor for Ilkay Gundogan. The brief spell he had alongside Rodri looked very promising.
Nico Gonzalez - loser
Reijnders got the minutes that Gonzalez didn't as he was strangely overlooked again. It looked like City had got a real bargain when the January signing ran the game against Newcastle just weeks after joining, yet he barely played after that.
Gonzalez started to get a few more chances towards the end of the campaign, yet in the United States it was more time on the bench as Gundogan, Reijnders and others were preferred.
Rodri - winner
It didn't end as he wanted, as a substitute that had to be taken off in the game against Al Hilal after complaining of issues. Those are to be expected as he works his way back from serious injury.
However, the start against Juventus went better than anyone expected and the whole tournament should have brought him closer to where he wants to be. That has to be a big positive for City.
Ederson - loser
It will feel like a win for City if Ederson stays and his comments about not wanting to leave are therefore encouraging. However, it was a poor tournament for the No.1.
There was a slack goal conceded against Juventus with a lazy pass and then he didn't make a save until extra time against Al Hilal as everything went through him. The online criticism he has received since has been over the top, but he will know he needs to do better.
James French - winner
Not a player, but the new set-piece coach has quickly impressed the squad with the simple way he has explained set-piece routines. More work is needed given the way Kalidou Koulibaly found himself free from a corner but it was a net positive for the Blues after they scored from several dead-ball situations of their own.
Oscar Bobb - loser
City's standout player in the last pre-season was a footnote here as he was restricted to substitute appearances against Wydad and Al Ain. He did well to get a goal against the Abu Dhabi side but otherwise had to sit and watch as others were given opportunities to impress.
Bobb is another who would dearly love to stay in the squad but looks to have plenty of competition in front of him.
Phil Foden - winner
Despite the mixed bag of a tournament for City, it has to be seen as a positive for Phil Foden. A player who endured physical and mental burnout last season to become a shadow of the star that was the best player in England in the 2023/24 season.
Foden looked to have a smile back on his face and scored in three of the four games, saving the best until last with his brilliant finish from Rayan Cherki's ball to equalise against Al Hilal. For the first time in a while, it felt like Foden was going to make something happen when he got on the ball.