City’s Club World Cup hopes: six reasons they can win in 2025 | OneFootball

With a spectacular 6-0 win over Al-Ain on Sunday night, Manchester City made an impressive statement at the 2025 Club World Cup. What looks like a class difference is actually the result of an outstandingly well-drilled team that, under Pep Guardiola, not only dominates but systematically destroys its opponents. The title now seems only a matter of time.

Here are six reasons why City has a good chance of winning the trophy again.

1. Pure Possession Football

City controlled the match against Al-Ain with over 74% possession and a pass accuracy of 94% (Source: 'The Guardian'). The team dictated the tempo, spatial distribution, and rhythm of play—typical features of Guardiola’s positional play. Al-Ain barely made it past the halfway line and had little to counter City’s structured pressure.

2. Clinical Finishing

According to 'AS', City took 16 shots on goal, many from clear positions. The result: six goals—an almost merciless efficiency. The goals were spread among several players, highlighting the flexibility of City’s offensive system.

3. Squad Depth as a Luxury Problem

Guardiola changed his starting eleven in ten positions compared to the last match—and yet the ball moved as smoothly as ever. Talents like Claudio Echeverri and Oscar Bobb slotted seamlessly into the system. New signing Rayan Cherki also scored. This quality in depth is a real trump card in tournament play.

4. Guardiola: The Club World Cup Specialist

Pep Guardiola now has four Club World Cup titles (Barcelona 2009 & 2011, Bayern 2013, ManCity 2023). With this wealth of experience and his ability to get teams performing at their peak even in the short term, he is the tactical mastermind of the competition.

5. Young Players – Mature Like Veterans

City’s squad is one of the youngest in the tournament—with an average age of about 24 years. Nevertheless, the team plays with great maturity. Players like Josko Gvardiol, Rico Lewis, and Echeverri show that City will remain competitive for years to come—youthful, yet highly organized.

6. Tactical Automatism at the Highest Level

City’s game is based on precisely rehearsed routines: winning the ball through aggressive counter-pressing, consistent spatial organization, and the famous “5-second rule” after losing possession. These mechanisms worked seamlessly against Al-Ain as well—many ball recoveries led directly to scoring chances.

What do you think: Can Man City still crown their so-far trophyless season? Let us know in the comments.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA - AFP or licensors