MAN CITY 2, WYDAD CASABLANCA 0
Pep Guardiola praised summer signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki after first-half goals from back-to-form Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku eased Manchester City to victory against Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in their opening Group G game at the FIFA Club World Cup.
“He is a really, really good player. You feel it, you smell it. The pace, in the final third, with the ball, when he will get a little bit more rhythm, he will be top,” City’s manager said of Reijnders, 26, who played the whole game in stifling heat of Philadelphia.
Brought in to help fill the huge void left by Kevin De Bruyne’s departure, Cherki , 21, lasted an hour before being substituted as City eased to victory.
Guardiola added: “Of course Kevin is difficult to replace, we know that, for the quality that he has.
“There is no doubt about that but at the same time the club decided on Rayan because he has incredible skills close to the box, incredible vision, many things.
“This was just the first game, in really tough conditions, and I am really pleased he is here.”
There was an experimental look to the City line up against the Moroccan side with young Brazilian defender Vitor Reis starting for just the third time since signing in January while Nathan Ake made a first appearance for his club since late February.
The five most-used outfield players for City over the course of the last campaign – Josko Gvardiol, Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias and Ilkay Gundogan – were all on the bench at kick-off.
New signing Rayan Ait-Nouri was an unused substitute, but Guardiola suggested that he will change almost his entire team for the next game, against Al Ain in Atlanta on Sunday.
“We had new players, players playing in different positions. Vitor Reis played a really good game, Nathan Ake was three, four or five months without playing, so many players we needed to give them minutes,” Guardiola said.
“The next game 10 new players (are) going to be there and we will try to win the next one.”
City will be without Rico Lewis due to suspension for the clash with United Arab Emirates side Al Ain after he was sent off late on against Wydad.
Lewis received a straight red card late on for catching Samuel Obeng in the face with his boot as both players slid in for a loose ball.
The decision was confirmed by the video assistant referee despite the full back’s protests opens up an opportunity in Monday’s game for Matheus Nunes or Manuel Akanji to come in.
If that was a source of frustration for the coach, Foden’s performance was encouraging as the England star scored the first goal and made the second.
Embed from Getty Images“Obviously last season wasn’t the best for me so I put it in my head to start the season strong and I am happy today that I managed to score and get an assist and help the team win,” said Foden.
“Last season was a bit rough for all of us but it is about trying to go again this season, with the new signings to help us, and trying to win trophies again.”
England international Foden, whose season had been disrupted through a niggling ankle injury and mental health issues, was back to his best at a barely half full Lincoln Financial Field.
Foden opening the scoring inside two minutes for his first goal for club and country in 20 games – he last found the net against Chelsea in late January with a well-taken finish into the bottom corner.
Shortly before half time, Foden then provided the assist for Doku to bundle home the second from close range.
There was also a cameo for Ballon d’Or winner Rodri from the bench for his second appearance since September following a serious cruciate knee injury.
Erling Haaland was also given a second-half runout and failed to take two clear-cut chances to give City an even wider margin of victory.