City thump Wydad Casablanca 2-0 in Club World Cup opener
Manchester City kicked off their Club World Cup campaign with a smooth 2-0 win over Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca, and Pep Guardiola couldn’t hide his excitement over the performance of his new signings. The game, played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, saw Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki making their first appearances in City shirts, and they didn’t disappoint.
Reijnders, signed from AC Milan, bossed the midfield in the sweltering heat, playing the full 90 minutes. Pep was full of praise for the Dutchman:
“He’s got something special. You feel it in the way he moves and controls the game. Once he finds his rhythm, he’ll be world-class,” said the manager.
The 26-year-old is expected to fill the void left by Kevin De Bruyne, and this performance was a promising start.
French youngster Rayan Cherki, bought from Lyon, also made his debut but only lasted 60 minutes as Guardiola rotated early.
“Replacing Kevin is no small task, but Rayan’s vision around the box is something we haven’t seen in a while,” Pep noted.
Cherki looked lively in spells and will be hoping to earn more minutes in upcoming matches.
Phil Foden opened the scoring, showing his sharpness early in the season, and then turned provider for Jeremy Doku’s second goal. The duo looked sharp despite the rotated lineup. Five regulars—including Haaland, Silva, Dias, Gundogan, and Gvardiol—started on the bench.
Also making a rare appearance was young defender Vitor Reis, while Nathan Ake featured for the first time since his injury in February.
Though Rayan Ait-Nouri stayed on the bench, Guardiola hinted at big changes ahead of Sunday’s clash against Al Ain in Atlanta.
“Expect 10 new players in the next game. Everyone gets a chance,” Pep stated confidently.
However, Rico Lewis will miss the game after receiving a late red card.
Foden, who was involved in both goals, made it clear he’s eyeing a strong comeback after a rough patch.
“It’s about bouncing back. I feel sharp, and we’re aiming for more silverware,” he said after the match.
With momentum now on their side, Manchester City will be aiming to go all the way in their hunt for the Club World Cup crown.
