Here are two topics to monitor at the Club World Cup from a Manchester City point of view | OneFootball

With the FIFA Club World Cup only days away from beginning, Manchester City will head to the United States aiming to win the competition. They will enter the tournament as one of the favourites to take out FIFA’s expanded competition. A host of sports betting websites have Pep Guardiola’s side amongst the favourites to create history this summer. Heading into the tournament, there is a host of topics to monitor that surround Pep Guardiola’s side. Here are two such topics to watch out for in the United States.

Will Phil Foden and Rodri make an impact at the tournament?

Entering the FIFA Club World Cup, there are two Manchester City players whose performances will be interesting to track. They are Phil Foden and Rodri. Both players had injury-ravaged 24/25 seasons. Foden suffered from a host of niggling injuries and revealed that he faced a mental battle throughout last season. Rodri suffered an ACL injury against Arsenal and missed 8 months of football. The pair remain two of Manchester City’s most important players. How they fare in the United States will be of great interest to Manchester City followers.

The hope is that Phil Foden can begin to show signs that he will return to his best for next season. Foden got some much-needed rest at the end of the 24/25 season. He wasn’t selected for the England squad for their recent matches against Andorra and Senegal. Phil Foden should enter the Club World Cup refreshed. If he can show some signs of getting back to his best, that would be a positive sign for Manchester City and Phil Foden.

In the case of Rodri, if he can get through the tournament unscathed from an injury point of view that would be great news for Manchester City. If there are signs that Manchester City’s midfield general can rediscover some of his touch that would be huge for Pep Guardiola’s side. Rodri’s progress from a fitness point of view and bid to return to form could be the biggest story from a Manchester City point of view to come out of the Club World Cup.

Will Oscar Bobb and Abdukodir Khusanov stake their claim for prominent roles in the Manchester City squad for next season?

Looking at the travelling squad Manchester City will take to the FIFA Club World Cup, several young players should get the opportunity to impress at the tournament. There are two that stand out. Those appear to be Oscar Bobb and Abdukodir Khusanov. Each player has the potential to become an important player for Pep Guardiola’s side next season. Performing well at the Club World Cup may set them up for that opportunity.

In the case of Oscar Bobb, he is in a similar boat to Phil Foden and Rodri. Oscar Bobb’s 24/25 season was wrecked by injury. He never got a run at it due to the fractured leg he suffered on the eve of last season. But Bobb has slowly begun to train regularly and be around the Manchester City squad towards the end of last season. He should enter the Club World Cup raring to go and aiming to make an impact. If he can do that it should lay the platform for Bobb to launch into the 25/26 season.

Abdukodir Khusanov does seem to be a player who should figure more prominently in the Manchester City squad for next season. The Uzbekistan international did make a good impression after signing for City from Lens during the January transfer window. With his pace and strength, coupled with his defensive acumen Khusanov should be a good squad player for Manchester City next season. An impressive FIFA Club World Cup campaign for Khusanov would lay the foundation for the young centre-back to blossom next season.

Summary.

There are a host of topics to watch for at the FIFA Club World Cup from a Manchester City point of view. How Phil Foden and Rodri perform is one. Whether or not Oscar Bobb and Abdukodir Khusanov can stake their claims for a major role in the City squad for next season is another. There are plenty more but those are two that are intriguing ahead of the tournament.