Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City is already the king of the world. The celestial team, champions of the Champions League, rounded off a perfect year with their first Club World Cup, their fifth title of the season, after the Premier League, the FA Cup, the European crown and the Continental Super Cup. It is the 37th title for Santpedor as coach. Fluminense, winners of the Libertadores, were no match for the English in the final played in Jidda (Saudi Arabia): in half an hour City already had the trophy in their pocket.
According to statistics and tradition, the successful team from Manchester had all the points to take the unofficial title of the best team in the world: in the last 10 years the champions of the Champions League had always won the final. The last to break European supremacy was Corinthians – with the future Blaugrana Paulinho in their ranks – who overcame a powerful Chelsea in 2012 led by Rafa Benítez (with Mata, Torres, Lampard, Hazard, Cole, David Luiz, Cech…) by 1-0.
It could serve as a warning to Guardiola, but the Catalan coach is more than tired in these fights. He already won the title with Barça (2009, 2011), with Bayern (2013) and is now the first coach to win the trophy with three different teams. And even if his current City was immersed in one of the worst streaks of results – and a more than questionable game -, with an unseemly situation of only one win in the last six Premier League games (one loss and four draws since of November 12), the English team was footballingly superior to the Brazilians. Even without being able to count on three mainstays like Håland, Doku and De Bruyne.
An authority that City already imposed from the start, after 39?seconds, with a goal with the heart of Julián Álvarez. The Argentinian striker, the offensive reference of the Celestials, finished with his chest a ball that had bounced off a post after a powerful shot from outside the area by Nathan Aké. The full-back turned a bad pass from ex-Madrid player Marcelo from the Brazilian left wing into an opportunity.
With the wind in favor of the early 1-0, City were able to consolidate their dominance, touch and go on the counter when it suited them. The 2-0 was born from a fabulous pass with tight lines by Rodri. The Madrid midfielder, architect of the Champions League in the final of Istanbul against Inter, put a deep ball to Foden, who just as it came made a cross that deflected into the inside of the goal by captain Nino in the attempt to refuse by throwing himself on the ground.
In 27 minutes, the citizens already had the final on track with two lethal attacks, but Fluminense woke up and had more of the ball than the Manchester team. Of course, the clearest chances were those of Guardiola, who showed off the veteran goalkeeper Fábio (43) in shots from Grealish (d. 42) or Foden (d. 52).
The verdict, just in case the 2-0 was not enough, came in the 72nd minute with a goal by Foden from a cross by Julián Álvarez, who received a good pass from Kovacic after taking advantage of a ball lost by the Brazilian defense.
The worst news for Manchester City was the injury to Rodri, who was tackled from behind by Alexsander and hurt his right knee. The Madrid player had to be replaced with signs of concern.
When the game was dying, Julián Álvarez rounded off the 4-0 thrashing, with a final shot placed from the front.
It was the only blemish in a placid final for City, who sign the first quintet in their history in a dream 2023.
