At long last, Man City show glimpse of former selves in resounding win

ORLANDO, Fla. -- At his prematch quality league astatine Camping World Stadium connected Wednesday, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was asked astir the Group G decider against Juventus and said: "The existent opponents for america commencement now." He meant nary disrespect to Wydad AC oregon Al Ain, but it was evident to Guardiola and everyone other that Juventus would airs their archetypal existent trial of the FIFA Club World Cup.

They didn't conscionable walk it. They breezed done with flying colors and made a connection of intent with an awesome 5-2 victory. If City weren't 1 of the favorites before, they are now.

Yes, Juventus contributed to their ain downfall with a drawstring of antiaircraft errors, including Pierre Kalulu's bizarre ain goal. But City played their portion with movement, gait and vigor that, for spells here, made them look similar the Guardiola squad that won 4 successive Premier League titles betwixt 2021 and 2024.

It was a show that made you wonder: When was the past clip City turned up similar this? The 6-0 triumph implicit Ipswich Town successful January, maybe? Or the 4-0 triumph implicit Newcastle United successful February? Regardless, it has been a while.

Since arriving successful the U.S., Guardiola has been keen to archer everyone that this is simply a caller commencement and a cleanable slate with past season's disastrous run placed firmly successful the rearview mirror. This was the archetypal grounds that helium has gotten his wish.

"The players felt for the archetypal clip successful a long, agelong clip we performed the mode we perform," Guardiola said. "The erstwhile 2 games we won, but contiguous we adjusted a fewer things and the show was truly good. I'm truly pleased due to the fact that the astir important happening is the players request to recognize what we person to bash to beryllium the mode we were the past decade.

"I person the feeling that past play we had an unthinkable squad and team, but we were injured 50% of the players, truthful it means we went down and cannot compete. This play we are going to effort to support this bushed arsenic agelong arsenic possible."

After victories implicit Wydad AC and Al Ain with 2 wholly antithetic XIs, it was hard to cognize City's level. But against Juventus, Guardiola picked a stronger team, bringing successful Rúben Dias and Rodri for their archetypal starts.

It was Rodri's archetypal commencement since genu country successful September, and what a quality helium makes. He thinks it could beryllium months earlier helium reaches the level that saw him crowned the world's champion subordinate successful October. Judging by his show here, helium hasn't mislaid overmuch successful presumption of prime and quickness of thought. In his 65 minutes connected the pitch, his question was bully and his passing was adjacent better.

"We miss him a lot," Guardiola said. "He knows precisely what helium has to do. I didn't expect him to play truthful galore minutes."

Around Rodri buzzed caller skipper Bernardo Silva and caller signing Tijjani Reijnders. There were times past play erstwhile City looked devoid of vigor successful the mediate of the pitch. Even successful the Florida vigor -- which touched 90 degrees Fahrenheit earlier a midgame downpour -- it was ne'er an issue. Bernardo was everywhere, popping up successful pouch aft pocket. Reijnders was a consenting runner from midfield and fantastic connected the ball. It was the Dutch midfielder's walk to Matheus Nunes -- racing guardant from close backmost -- that acceptable up halftime substitute Erling Haaland for City's 3rd goal.

In addition, Rayan Aït-Nouri was terrific. For the archetypal clip successful 4 years, Guardiola has a specializer near backmost successful his team, and wrong 10 minutes, the Algerian had created 2 chances. The 2nd was scored by Jérémy Doku, who was besides impressive.

The database goes on. Omar Marmoush led the enactment good successful the archetypal half, and Savinho scored a stunning 5th goal. At the different end, Ruben Dias successfully handled the physicality of Dusan Vlahovic. The lone blot connected the copybook was a mediocre walk retired from Éderson that allowed Teun Koopmeiners to concisely marque it 1-1. It was arsenic adjacent arsenic Juventus got.

play

1:26

Dawson: Man City could conflict with Grealish this summer

Rob Dawson provides an update connected Jack Grealish's aboriginal arsenic issues originate with his precocious wages and declaration length.

When City were astatine their lowest constituent past season, they traveled to look the Italian giants successful Turin successful the Champions League and mislaid 2-0. The shirts had the aforesaid badge, but they looked a shadiness of the squad which had dominated English shot for astir a decade. It's inactive aboriginal successful Guardiola's reset and successful this competition, but for the archetypal clip successful a agelong time, you could spot a flicker of their erstwhile selves.

"It has been a agelong clip since we had a show similar this connected and disconnected the ball," Guardiola said. "The players were committed and we are blessed to bushed a apical side."

"This is conscionable 1 game, but I deliberation the players felt again what it was similar to beryllium a bully team. The content ever comes from your performances, not your past."