Manchester City’s bid to return to the top won’t be a simple process | OneFootball

With their exit from the FIFA Club World Cup confirmed with their 4-3 defeat to Al Hilal, the Manchester City players and staff now have a month of rest ahead of them. That is one positive from City’s early exit from the competition. But it isn’t all doom and gloom for Pep Guardiola’s side. Their Club World Cup campaign was full of positives as well as areas of concern. But above all, City’s efforts in the United States showed that Manchester City’s bid to return to the top of English football won’t be a simple process.

Manchester City’s bid to return to the top will have hiccups and stumbles along the way.

As mentioned above there were both positives and negatives to take from Manchester City’s efforts at the FIFA Club World Cup. The return of Rodri and Oscar Bobb to the pitch is one. The integration of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders into the City squad was another. It was also clear to see that there was more fluidity to City’s attacking play and that in itself was a sign of hope for the 25/26 season. But by playing more aggressively in the final third it did expose one frailty in Manchester City’s play.

By taking more risks going forward, Pep Guardiola’s side did get exposed at the back. Especially on the counterattack. All four of Manchester City’s opponents at the Club World Cup did have their moments on the break against Pep Guardiola’s side. That is one kink of Manchester City’s play that will need to be ironed out in time. There are more but Pep Guardiola and his players will need time to put it all together. That isn’t an area of concern, it’s just the reality of the situation Manchester City currently find themselves in.

It isn’t as simple as Manchester City signing players and immediately contending at the top of the Premier League or Champions League again. Football doesn’t work that way. New ideas need time to come together. New players also need time to adjust to Pep Guardiola’s demands and their new teammates and surroundings. It won’t be a linear process for Manchester City to contend straight away. There will be hiccups and teething problems along the way. City’s efforts at the Club World Cup were a reminder of this.

Each season is a journey and Pep Guardiola’s side has taken their first steps of the 25/26 season.

Every season is a journey. That hasn’t changed, and what lies ahead of the Manchester City squad is another ten-month journey to hopefully return to the top of English football. But every journey begins with a first step. Pep Guardiola’s side has taken that step in the United States. It was apparent that there are good vibes amongst the Manchester City squad and staff. New additions to Pep Guardiola’s staff and playing squad have brought about change. But it will take time for that change to fully take hold.

Manchester City’s bid to return to the top of English and European football has begun. It won’t be a simple process and there will be hiccups and stumbles along the way. That is to be expected and in the reaction to Manchester City’s defeat to Al Hilal it has perhaps been forgotten.