The 2024/25 season proved challenging for Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City squad, marking the first trophyless campaign since the 2016/17 season. Transitioning from a dominant spell of four consecutive Premier League titles, City found themselves needing to secure Champions League qualification on the final day of the season, which undoubtedly left the team eager to move on from last year.
Looking ahead, Guardiola plans to revamp his squad with four to five new signings this summer to ensure the team does not experience another disappointingly barren season. However, a new concern has emerged among the players regarding the FIFA Club World Cup.
Manuel Akanji, who joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, has openly criticized the upcoming tournament. Despite a challenging season marred by injuries, he expressed his discontent with the tournament’s timing, explaining that it leaves little room for necessary rest and recovery for players. Speaking from Salt Lake City, where the Swiss national team is preparing for a friendly against Mexico, Akanji stated, “My City teammates are not exactly overjoyed about the tournament either. But it’s now right in our faces, and there is nothing we can do about it.”
City will debut in the FIFA Club World Cup on June 18 against Wydad AC, with further group matches against Al Ain and Juventus on June 23 and June 26, respectively. With the squad expected to include new faces like Tijjani Reijnders and an anticipated deal for Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri, the team could go deep into the tournament. Consequently, this means the players may have limited time to recover before the start of the 2025/26 season in August.
Despite the challenges posed by the FIFA Club World Cup, Manchester City fans can remain hopeful that the club will bolster its roster and rebound from last season’s shortcomings. The upcoming tournament may indeed provide an opportunity for the team to regain momentum and start the next season with renewed vigor.