Manchester City from England defeated Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan in the FIFA Club World Cup semifinals, securing a decisive 3-0 victory in Saudi Arabia. The match, held in Jeddah, saw Mateo Kovacic strike in the 52nd minute and Bernardo Silva add another in the 59th. An own goal by Urawa’s Marius Høybroten at 45+1 minute sealed the win for the English club.
In the forthcoming final, Manchester City, appearing in this tournament for the first time in their history, are set to face Brazilian side Fluminense. The clash will determine the global champion after a competition featuring top clubs from continental leagues.
Manchester City currently sits fourth in the English Premier League with 34 points from 17 matches, four points behind the leaders. The team has built momentum in the domestic campaign as they prepare for the final and potential celebrations on the world stage.
Following the semifinal win, Pep Guardiola, the team’s head coach, spoke about the immediate plan for the squad. He emphasized rest as a priority, noting that recuperation is essential after the intense schedule. He highlighted the importance of a calm environment for the players and mentioned that the squad would pause for a day to recharge before focusing on the final, while acknowledging that the opponents also deserve proper preparation time.
Earlier in the season, FourFourTwo highlighted standout performers in 2023, recognizing players who delivered influential displays across competitions and helped their teams reach key milestones.