Pep Guardiola’s side remains a work in progress which is normal for this stage of the season | OneFootball

Manchester City have begun their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with victories over Wydad AC and Al Ain. Pep Guardiola’s side has scored eight goals and is yet to concede at the tournament. But it is obvious to see that there are still a host of minor issues for the Manchester City squad to work through. With new players and new coaches, there have been tactical tweaks to Manchester City’s style of play. They are yet to be fully embedded but that isn’t a cause for concern as Pep Guardiola pointed out yesterday.

Pep Guardiola has explained that his team are still not doing things well.

Speaking during his pre-game press conference ahead of Manchester City’s final Group G fixture against Juventus, Pep Guardiola explained that his team is continuing to improve. He said there are things that his team aren’t doing well but it isn’t a cause for concern. Speaking with the media, Guardiola explained: “Even in the 6-0 result, still there are things we are not doing well. But it’s completely normal right now. Hopefully, every game we can do better and better to improve. I am seeing good things. The season will be tough, we know it, but in the other terms I’m so positive that we will do many, many good things.”

Pep Guardiola’s side is building, and today’s match against Juventus comes at the perfect time.

The FIFA Club World Cup is a new beginning for Pep Guardiola’s side. It is basically a pre-season for a new look Manchester City side. As Pep Guardiola pointed out yesterday, it is normal for his team not to be the finished product so early into what is essentially their pre-season. Manchester City’s performances against Wydad AC and Al Ain have been promising, but it is obvious that there remains plenty for Pep Guardiola, his staff and his players to work on and improve.

But after their first two games of the Club World Cup, the challenges are set to ramp up for Pep Guardiola’s side. They take on Juventus later today in a must-win match for Manchester City. If they win they will qualify for the Round of 16 of the competition as Group G winners. But outside of that, they will play a higher-quality opponent in Juventus than Al Ain and Wydad AC. That’s no disrespect to Wydad AC or Al Ain that’s the reality of today’s fixture.

But playing Juventus will show Pep Guardiola and his team how far they have progressed so far this summer. It will also show them what else they need to improve and work on given the quality in Juventus’ ranks. That is one of many positives of Manchester City’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Manchester City have made an impressive start to their FIFA Club World Cup campaign. But Pep Guardiola’s side remains a work in progress based on the amount of change the club has undergone so far this summer. It will be interesting to see if any of what Pep Guardiola, his staff, and his players have worked on does stand out against Juventus in Orlando. But if it doesn’t it isn’t a cause for concern given that it is still so early in Manchester City’s pre-season.