Pep Guardiola hints at Manchester City returning back to their best in Juventus rout | OneFootball

Manchester City may be close to returning to their very best, or at least heading in that direction, head coach Pep Guardiola has insisted.

The Premier League giants rounded off the perfect group stage campaign at the FIFA Club World Cup by dismissing of their toughest test in Juventus via a 2-5 scoreline at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Goals from Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Savinho, and an own goal from Pierre Kalulu put the result beyond any doubt and ensured that City would head into the knockout stage of the competition as Group G winners.

As such, Manchester City have been handed a more favourable route to a potential Club World Cup Final at the MetLife Stadium in New York, avoiding all of the likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain.

Up next for Pep Guardiola and his players is a clash against Joao Cancelo and his Al-Hilal teammates, now coached by former Inter boss Simone Inzaghi – who left the Italian giants for Saudi Arabia following his UEFA Champions League final drubbing at the hands of PSG.

Speaking to reporters from the Camping World Stadium on Thursday night, manager Pep Guardiola spoke of just how long it has been since he has seen a performance of that quality from his Manchester City side.

“It’s [been] a long, long time since we made a performance like today – with and without the ball, and the players were committed,” Guardiola reflected.

“We talked about what we have to improve to be who we were in the past and happy to finish 1st against a top, top side that proved it in the past and recent games. We’re waiting for who will be our opponent,” he continued.

Guardiola did however insist that while it’s only one game of such strength from his City side, there were plenty of positive signs to take from the outing. “More than anything, the players felt again what we have to do to be a good team,” he continued. “There’s no more secrets than that! It’s not necessary for words or images, they played and knew it.”

One huge bonus for Manchester City was the return of Rodri to starting line-up action, as he was named in Pep Guardiola’s initial eleven for the first time since September 2024 and the contest that would ultimately see him endure his horror knee injury.

“We missed him a lot, right?! I had the feeling last season we had an incredible team, but had a lot of problems; injuries, injuries, injuries. Which team is not going to miss the best player in the world,” said Guardiola.

He continued, “His composure, he knows exactly what he has to do with the ball, the personality, many things.

“I didn’t expect him to play as much minutes after 45 [vs Juventus], but he said, ‘A few more’, and the game was good in the second-half with control, and after, OK! He’ll be ready for the next one!”

Having eased Rodri back into action over the course of the last few weeks and months, Pep Guardiola and Manchester City will be hopeful that the reigning holder of the Ballon d’Or award can continue to feature during the remainder of the Club World Cup.

The tournament Stateside will also be viewed as the ideal opportunity to get the 29-year-old back up to speed in time for the start of the new Premier League campaign, with City opening their account with a visit to Wolves’ Molineux on Saturday 16 August.