Club World Cup can help Manchester City get season back on track, says Rodri

Manchester City midfielder Rodri says the Fifa Club World Cup offers them a chance to reset and attack the rest of the season, insisting the English and European champions will not panic about their current Premier League form.

City came into their debut global tournament off the back of Saturday’s disappointing 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, in which they let slip a two-goal lead.

The result meant they have won only once in six Premier League games to fall to fourth, five points off leaders Arsenal after 17 games.

However, Pep Guardiola’s side got back to winning ways in Jeddah on Tuesday night, when they marked their first Club World Cup match with a 3-0 semi-final victory against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds.

The triumph booked City a place in the final on Friday against South American champions Fluminense of Brazil.

Speaking immediately after defeating Urawa, Rodri told reporters: “Of course, after when we came, the last game, there was a really bad feeling in the changing room. But it was good to stop a little bit and then come here to the Club World Cup.”

At King Abdullah Sports City, City struggled initially to break down Urawa before an own goal from Norwegian defender Marius Hoibraten in first-half stoppage time broke the deadlock.

City then pulled away from their rivals in the second half, with Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva scoring in the space of seven minutes before the hour mark.

“We have to focus on every game, that’s it, go game by game, don’t think much about what’s coming,” Rodri said. “I said to the lads to just focus on today, don’t think on points or anything else. We have a massive opportunity to win an incredible trophy, new for us, the Club World Cup.

“We’re in the final, it was tough to arrive