Manchester City face a unique challenge when they play Fluminense on Friday in the Club World Cup final, City coach, Pep Guardiola has admitted.
Manchester City are looking to win the competition for the first time in their history after featuring in the tournament by virtue of winning last season’s UEFA Champions League.
City are coming into the FIFA World Cup final against Fluminense on the back of a 3-0 win over Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-finals.
The treble winners have been dubbed tournament’s favourite and are expected to grind out a positive result on Friday in Saudi Arabia.
Manchester City have not been at their best this season, and they can be quite inconsistent, with star striker Erling Haaland ruled out of the tournament with a foot injury.
However, there are sketchy reports, the Norwegian has recovered in time for the much anticipated encounter today in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, City’s opponent in todays’s final, the Copa Libertadores winners have made headlines across the world for their tactics under boss Fernando Diniz, and Guardiola – who likened them to the great Brazil teams of the past – admits City have “never faced” a side like this before.
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City have “never faced” a team like Fluminense before, likening the Club World Cup finalists to some of the great Brazil national teams of the past.
After brushing aside Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds 3-0, Man City will meet the Copa Libertadores winners in the showpiece final following the South Americans’ 2-0 win over Egypt’s Al Ahly.
Fernando Diniz once described the unique football played by Fluminense as the opposite of Guardiola sides. The team have adopted an anti-positional style, which enables his players to interchange positions on the pitch.
City had two more goals by the 60th minute, with both Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva on the scoresheet.
They will now play South American champions Fluminense in the final on Friday, December 22,