“We were happy here” – Pep Guardiola’s heartbreaking reaction to Club World Cup exit | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued an emotional reaction to the club’s exit from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at the hands of Al Hilal.

The Premier League giants’ run in the United States came crashing down at the hands of Saudi Arabian opposition on Monday night, as City conceded four goals across 120 minutes of action at the Camping World Stadium.

Bernardo Silva got City off to the perfect start with an opening goal inside 10 minutes, only for Al Hilal to score twice inside the first six minutes of the second-half, and notch a further two goals in extra-time to overcome comebacks from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden.

As such, Manchester City return back to the City Football Academy with around six weeks until the start of the Premier League season, with their English top-flight campaign beginning on Saturday 16 August away to Wolves at Molineux.

Speaking to reporters after Manchester City’s defeat to Al Hilal in Orlando on Monday night, manager Pep Guardiola issued an emotional reaction to his side’s exit from the competition and immediate return to the City Football Academy.

“We allowed them [Al Hilal] to create transitions but we created a lot and in general we were good. It’s a pity,” Guardiola said.

He continued, “We were in such a good place and I can’t not say thank you to the staff, how they trained and prepared, they have given everything.

“I have the feeling the team is doing well, but we go home and now it’s time to rest and refresh our mind and come back next season.”

Offering some insight into the positives to be taken from his side’s showing at the United States-based competition, Guardiola said, “I saw many good things that I didn’t see in the past, especially where we were, the relations between players and staff.

“I felt we were happy here and the sessions were really good, but the levels here are so high.”

Continuing on the subject of his squad, and perhaps the size of the roster ahead of the start of the European campaign, Guardiola said, “It’s really good, but [I’m] disappointed for many players that we would’ve loved to have let them play but it wasn’t possible.

“We have a big squad and we’ll see what happens. Now it’s tough but we come back in the next days, rest, and start the Premier League.”

For now, it remains to be seen just how much downtime Manchester City’s players will be afforded before Pep Guardiola recalls his squad to begin preparations for the new calendar of Premier League action in August.

There are also lingering doubts over whether all of the squad that were present in the United States will be back training when the wider squad resumes later in July, with transfer rumours intensifying over the likes of John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan, and Ederson in particular.