Manchester City crushed Juventus Turin in the Club World Cup and was particularly pleased with the comeback of playmaker Rodri. For Pep Guardiola, possession was the key to success.
“It was above all a statement performance for ourselves,” Guardiola enthused after the Skyblues’ 5-2 win over Juventus and their third victory in their third group game. His team had previously put in a truly impressive performance, making their opponents look very old for long periods of the game. “It’s been a long time since we’ve put in a performance like that,” said the Spaniard.
Alongside the furious wing play of Jeremy Doku, the standout performer at Camping World Stadium in Orlando was returnee Rodri, who set the tempo for the English side’s powerful play. Guardiola’s compatriot was back in the starting line-up for the first time after a nine-month injury lay-off. “Everyone knows how important Rodri is. He was the best player in the world. He is the composer of our game,” Guardiola enthused.
“The ball never tires” – Joker Haaland scores
His players had shown what needed to be done “to be a good team.” In his view, this includes possession football. Manchester had 76 percent possession according to the match statistics at the final whistle. This is a factor that should not be underestimated, especially in the sweltering Florida heat. “If you have the ball more, you suffer less on the pitch. Because the ball never gets tired.”
Ahead of the knockout stages and the round of 16 against Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia (Tuesday, 3 a.m. CEST, again at Camping World Stadium in Orlando), City striker Erling Haaland also seems to be back on track. His tap-in shortly after coming on as a substitute to make it 3-1 (52′) was the 300th career goal for the Norwegian, who is only 24 years old. A remarkable number, as Haaland’s coach also thought. “Good, isn’t it?” praised Guardiola. “I admire him very much.” He himself, despite an “incredible career,” has only managed “eleven goals,” the former midfielder said with a wink.
