Pep Guardiola believes City’s progress this season shows how much the squad benefited from taking part in last summer’s 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
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City travelled out to the United States in mid-June of last year to compete in what was an expanded, new look FIFA Club World Cup tournament.
After encouraging group stage wins against Wydad AC, Al-Ain and Juventus, Guardiola’s side exited the tournament at the hands of Al-Hilal at the quarter-final stage.
Despite the disappointment of that setback, reflecting back now with City top of the Premier League, having won the Carabao Cup and targeting a fourth successive FA Cup final appearance, the Blues boss believes the bond and togetherness engendered within the squad during their time at our Miami training base has proved crucial this term.
“For sure [the Club World Cup helped us.] It was something,” Pep said addressing the media at Friday’s pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final with Southampton.
“It was not decisive of course but yeah; we went to it for the new season. The last season finished at Fulham, we qualified for the Champions League and then the Club World Cup was like the start of the new season.
“We were creating something there and the vibe was so good in the group, and no-one wanted to go on holidays.
“We had to have a break [after going out] but mentally it was like that. Mentally fresh, new captains, new players came. Pep Lijnders came in.
“We started to do it. It’s not been perfect but certain little things clicked, and we started to say ‘we’re in a good way’.”
Play the video to watch Pep’s press conference in full…