2023-12-22 21:16:03
Updated22. December 2023, 22:16
Football: Manuel Akanji’s Manchester City crowned world champion
The reigning European champion won his first Club World Cup by dominating the Brazilians of Fluminense in the final (4-0) on Friday in Jeddah.
Manchester City won their first Club World Cup this Friday in Jeddah.
AFP
The ogre Manchester City added a new line to its record by winning its first Club World Cup at the expense of Fluminense, crushed 4-0 on Friday in Jeddah, where coach Pep Guardiola won an unprecedented fourth title in the competition. The Spanish technician had already been crowned with FC Barcelona (2009, 2011) and Bayern Munich (2013). The reigning European champion – which passed under the Emirati flag in 2008 – succeeds Real Madrid, five-time winner of this Club World Cup which was in its 20th edition.
City and the “Flu”, respectively winners in the semi-finals of the Japanese Urawa Reds (3-0) and the Egyptians of Al-Ahly (2-0), were in the final for their very first participation. And on Friday, there was no need to be late at the King Abdallah Stadium as the English champions opened the scoring after just… 40 seconds of play! Taking advantage of a poor recovery in the axis from veteran Marcelo, former Real Madrid player, the Dutchman Nathan Ake placed a curling shot on the goal post of Fabio (43 years old) and the ball returned to the Argentinian Julian Alvarez, who followed and scored with his chest.
Without Haaland and De Bruyne
The Brazilian team coached by Fernando Diniz – also coach of the Seleçao – believed to benefit from a penalty in the 16th minute for a foul by Brazilian City goalkeeper Ederson on German Cano, but the latter was flagged offside. On the contrary, it was the English club who doubled the score in the 27th minute, with an own goal from Nino. The central defender and captain indeed deflected a cross from Phil Foden into his goal, which had been superbly cleared by Rodri.
Two other goals were scored in the second half by the clearly dominant English, works of Phil Foden (72nd) and Alvarez, at the end of the match, for a personal double (88th).
10th club trophy for Akanji
Substitute at kick-off, Manuel Akanji came on in the 74th minute to join in the fun. The Zurich defender wins his 10th club trophy. The 5th with Manchester City, where he signed in the summer of 2022 and where he quickly established himself as an executive.
This new collective consecration echoes another crowning achievement, this time individual: this same Friday, the former Borussia Dortmund player was awarded the honorary title of best central defender in the world by the CIES Football Observatory.
Manchester City, who were playing without their key men Erling Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne and Jérémy Doku (injured), have played five matches in twelve days, or one every three days since December 10. A hellish pace for the Citizens, authors of a resounding quadruple last season: Champions League, FA Cup, English Championship and UEFA Super Cup.
European domination
City also confirmed European domination in this Club World Cup. Since 2012, no trophy has escaped the representative of the Old Continent, certainly always more financially powerful. The last South American club to have registered its name in the winners of this World Cup is the rival of “Flu”, the Corinthians of Sao Paulo, winners of Chelsea 1-0 in Yokohama in December 2012.
For its next edition, in the United States in the summer of 2025, the Club World Cup will change its format and go from 7 to 32 teams and will be played every four years.
(AFP/Sport Center)
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