Manchester City face Fluminense in the FIFA Club World Cup final on Friday after defeating Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Tuesday night. The treble winners have the chance to win their fifth trophy of the calendar year, having already won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and Super Cup in 2023.
Erling Haaland is one of three Manchester City stars banned from the FIFA Club World Cup final due to the concussion rule. Published: 20:54 December 19, 2023 | Last Updated: 20:54 19 December 2023 by Harry Winters SHAREWEET Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will be without key players in the FIFA Club World Cup final due to competition rules.
Manchester City face Fluminense in the FIFA Club World Cup final on Friday after defeating Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Tuesday night. The treble winners have the chance to win their fifth trophy of the calendar year, having already won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and Super Cup in 2023. Manchester City reached their first Club World Cup final with a 3–0 win in Jeddah after a Marius Høibråten own goal and second-half goals from Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva.
The Sky Blues doubled their lead after Kovacic’s first goal for the club in the 52nd minute, before Silva sealed victory with a rebound moments later. The pair started in the absence of the Manchester City trio of Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland and Jeremy Dok, with Guardiola opting not to start the established striker.
De Bruyne returned to team training on Monday as the 32-year-old recovers from thigh surgery on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Strike duo Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku were also left out of the 23-man matchday squad for the semi-final as the pair missed Manchester City’s recent Premier League and Champions League fixtures. Haaland has not played since the defeat against Aston Villa, while Doku has been sidelined since Tottenham’s 3-3 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
Leave a Reply