"But the big strength at City in my time here is no matter who is missing, we are the same team and we fight for all the titles. "We will do that. Of course if Erling Haaland is not here we will miss him, but we have Julian Alvarez and he is a top striker. "The past 10 Club World Cups have been won by European sides, including Liverpool and Chelsea, with Guardiola having previously won it twice with Barcelona.
Cityzens boss Pep Guardiola has won the competition three times before as a manager, although not with City, and can win it for a fourth time in Saudi Arabia. Urawa Red Diamonds knocked out Concacaf Champions League winners Leon in the last round to make the final four where they will come up against City. Football betting sites have priced Guardiola’s team as strong favourites, but there will be an element of the unknown to this fixture.
Schedule increasing injury risk - Man City's SilvaLong-term injury absentee Kevin de Bruyne trained with the team on MondayBernardo Silva says the amount of games elite footballers have to play now is "crazy" but big wages mean he cannot complain, as Manchester City prepare for the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia. City, in the tournament as European champions, play Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-finals with a potential final against Fluminense on Friday. "The amount of games we have nowadays, it is a bit crazy because of the rest that players get, " said Silva. "The risk of injury is up quite a lot. "Champions League last-16 draw - Man City to face CopenhagenThis trip is squeezed in between Premier League matches on 16 and 27 December more than 3, 000 miles away.
Can the Japanese side pull off a shock? Here are three betting tips ahead of the clash:Luke Baker19 December 2023 16:521703004058Manchester City early team newsCity are waiting on the fitness of striker Erling Haaland, who has missed the last three games with a foot injury – including Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace. Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku have travelled with the squad as they near returns from injury but are unlikely to play.
"But how do you change when [after] you finish the season, you go to the United States to play another competition? This is the problem. "Guardiola says the Fifa Club World Cup offers Manchester City the chance to "close the little circle and win all the trophies we could" as they prepare for Tuesday's semi-final with Urawa Red Diamonds. City are the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Uefa Super Cup holders and have also won the EFL Cup and Community Shield under Guardiola. "It's the first time Man City is here [the Club World Cup], " said Guardiola.
"The Club World Cup will be expanded to a 32-team tournament from 2025, which will be held every four years in the summer - instead of the current smaller annual mid-season event. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said: "I am not against the new competitions. I am against the lack of time to recover from year to year. "This is what I am complaining [about] all the time. For me it doesn't matter to play every three days, six days, seven days. It is OK. "But it is really tough to finish the season and then in three weeks restart again and go to Asia, to be financially stable, or the States. That is really, really tough, for ourselves and especially for the players. For myself, things should change.
"We don't take it for granted, it's a privilege, an honour to be here. "The winners will face Fluminense in Friday's final after the South American champions beat Al Ahly 2-0 in the first semi-final. Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland have both travelled to Saudi Arabia after recent injuries - although there is no word on whether either will play. Midfielder De Bruyne has not played since suffering a hamstring injury on the opening day of the season, but trained with the team on Monday. Striker Haaland has missed their past three games with a foot injury. "Erling is a big player for us, we can't deny that, " midfielder Silva said.
Urawa Red Diamonds vs Man City LIVE! Club World Cup 1 hour ago — Kick-off time: 6pm GMT, King Abdullah Sports City · How to watch: TNT Sports · Man City team news: Haaland and De Bruyne doubts · Standard Sport ...
