Soccer - Manchester City win Club World Cup: 4-0 victory over Fluminense
Manchester City have crowned an outstanding season by winning the Club World Cup for the first time. In the final in Jeddah, the team coached by Pep Guardiola beat Fluminense from Rio de Janeiro 4:0 (2:0).
The club from the English Premier League won their fifth major title in 2023 thanks to goals from Julian Alvarez (1st and 88th minute), Nino (27th/own goal) and Phil Foden (72nd).
Guardiola had previously won the Club World Cup in 2009 and 2011 with FC Barcelona and in 2013 with FC Bayern. This makes him the first coach to win four Club World Cup titles. City midfielder Mateo Kovacic also achieved something historic, becoming the first player to win the competition with three different clubs. He triumphed with Real Madrid in 2016 and 2017 and with Chelsea in 2021.
City continue their run of European victories
The Cityzens, who had also won the English Championship, FA Cup and European Super Cup in addition to the Champions League this year, seamlessly continued their string of European victories at the Club World Cup with their unchallenged triumph. The title went to a team from Europe for the eleventh time in a row. The streak began after the 2012 final, which Corinthians São Paulo won 1:0 against Chelsea FC.
This year's edition took place in Saudi Arabia for the first time. The country, which has been criticized for human rights violations, has been positioning itself as a host of major sporting events for years. It has recently invested a lot of money in professional soccer in particular and brought superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar to the domestic league. It is considered certain that Saudi Arabia will be awarded the 2034 World Cup.
The Club World Cup, which will not take place in 2024, will now be given a completely new format. FIFA is planning a tournament with 63 games in total and seven games for the finalists for 2025 from June 15 to July 13 in the USA. German record champions FC Bayern Munich have already qualified for the tournament thanks to their good Champions League results.
Read also:
- NFL kicker out injured, then something unbelievable happens!
- Taylor Swift talks about love for her NFL star
- Crazy victory in the NFL top game
- NFL star breaks referee's leg
Manchester City's victory in the Club World Cup was celebrated throughout England, with fans in Jeddah joining their counterparts back home in Manchester City's blue colors. The triumph marked Phil Foden's first major title with the club-wm, adding to his growing reputation as a key player under manager Josep Guardiola.
The success in Saudi Arabia also brought Manchester City one step closer to achieving the elusive quadruple, a feat only a select few clubs in English Soccer history have managed. Meanwhile, Julian Alvarez's impressive brace in the final underscored why the Argentine forward has been attracting interest from top European clubs like FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
In the face of criticism for its human rights record, Saudi Arabia has used major sporting events as a platform to boost its international image. The hosting of the Club World Cup further cemented the country's ambition to host the World Cup in 2034, potentially marking a major milestone in the growth of soccer in the Middle East.
As Manchester City's victory celebration continued, FC Bayern Munich learned that they had qualified for the revamped Club World Cup in 2025, which would take place in the United States. The German giants, coached by Hansi Flick, would have a chance to compete against the world's best clubs and potentially add another major title to their already impressive trophy cabinet.
Meanwhile, in Rio de Janeiro, Fluminense struggled to come to terms with their defeat, with manager Vitor Pereira acknowledging that his team had not been at their best on the day. Despite the defeat, the Brazilian club remained confident in their ability to bounce back and challenge for domestic and continental titles in the future.
Saudi Arabia's investment in soccer was also attracting interest from other top European clubs. Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, both of whom had previously played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, joined local teams in the Saudi league. The move promised to add star power and enhance the league's appeal to a global audience.
In light of the Club World Cup victory, Manchester City's manager Pep Guardiola was hailed as one of the greatest managers in soccer history. His ability to build successful teams, manage stars, and deliver titles at various clubs had solidified his place among the all-time greats.
Finally, Mateo Kovacic, the versatile midfielder, was lionized for his accomplishment in winning the Club World Cup with three different clubs. The Croatian's journey from Chelsea to Real Madrid and back to Stamford Bridge had been marked by resilience and a deep love for the game. His numerous titles and trophies cemented his place as one of the most decorated players in the modern era of soccer.
Source: www.stern.de
