SWOT analysis of Manchester City's Club World Cup Squad
Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have announced the squad for the first edition of the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, which is all set to start on 14th June at Hard Rock Stadium. Manchester City will look to kick-start their proceedings with a win in the tournament as the club reveals their squad with the new signings. For the FIFA Club World Cup, which is set to have 32 teams from across the globe, Manchester City have named Marcus Bettinelli, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki alongside other first-team players. With the squad, they are expected to go far in the competition and even be among the top four in the tournament.
Here is the SWOT analysis of Manchester City and the prediction on where they would finish in the tournament:
Strengths:
Manchester City have strengthened their squad over the last two transfer windows, even as they aim to reach another peak in performance. The presence of key players such as Phil Foden, Ruben Dias, and Erling Haaland, along with the return of Rodri, adds significant value due to their proven track record in both domestic and European competitions.
City also boast impressive squad depth, with at least two capable players available for each position. This depth will be crucial in navigating the challenges of the FIFA Club World Cup, especially given the tight schedule and high stakes.
Additionally, Manchester City will rely on their solid defensive unit built over the past few seasons. Players like Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Manuel Akanji are expected to play vital roles in a tournament where the opposition features teams with considerable attacking threat.
Weaknesses:
While Pep Guardiola has taken three goalkeepers with him to the United States of America, the depth often asks questions. Ederson had difficulties in the previous season as he struggled for form and also the injuries plagued him. Pep featured Stegan Ortega in the previous campaign, who also made a few blunders across all competitions. The new signing, Bettinelli, has struggled for game time, which might affect City’s chances due to their poor goalkeeping squad.
On the other hand, Manchester City have a big midfield squad with different profiles. Cityzens have Rodri back in the squad after a long injury layoff. These pose challenges in terms of chemistry and game rhythm with newer faces like Reijnders and Cherki alongside the senior pros like Bernardo Silva and İlkay Gündoğan.
Opportunities:
Ahead of the tournament, Pep Guardiola has announced the squad with new players like Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki who have been signed for a combined fee of £ 117.4 million. This would be the opportunity for the Spaniard to test his players and adopt the tactics going ahead to the next season.
On the other hand, for players like Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders, this is a chance for the players to get the taste of opponents who they could potentially face in the Champions League. The tournament is a testing ground in every sense.
Threats:
Manchester City have revamped their squad with several new signings over the past 18 months. While this has been a positive step toward refreshing an aging team, the chemistry among the players is still developing. The timing of the tournament may not be ideal, as it offers less flexibility than a pre-season. During the pre-season, Pep Guardiola could have implemented the necessary tactical adjustments following a trophyless 2024-25 campaign.
Additionally, after a demanding domestic and European season, many players may not have had sufficient time to rest and recover ahead of the new campaign. It will be interesting to see how Pep manages squad rotation while trying to avoid injuries.
Manchester City’s Club World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Marcus Bettinelli, Stefan Ortega Moreno, Ederson
Defenders: Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Vitor Reis, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Abdukodir Khusanov
Midfielders: Nico O'Reilly, Tijjani Reijnders, Jeremy Doku, Nico Gonzalez, Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Savinho, Matheus Nunes, Rayan Cherki, Claudio Echeverri, Phil Foden, Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis
Forwards: Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush
Who are Manchester City playing in the FIFA Club World Cup?
- June 18: Manchester City vs Wydad AC, Lincoln Financial Field
- June 22: Manchester City vs Al Ain, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- June 26: Juventus vs Manchester City, Camping World Stadium
