It’s too early to say – Pep Guardiola hoping Man City can challenge next season

Pep Guardiola feels it is “too early to say” whether Manchester City will be back competing for the biggest prizes next season.

City’s hopes of using the Club World Cup to kickstart a revival after an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign ended prematurely as they crashed out to Saudi side Al-Hilal in Orlando on Monday night.

With new signings catching the eye in an impressive group phase that culminated with a 5-2 thrashing of Juventus, City appeared to have turned a corner.

But old defensive failings returned as Al-Hilal produced a stunning upset at the Camping World Stadium, edging a pulsating last-16 encounter 4-3 after extra time.

“I don’t know,” said City manager Guardiola afterwards when asked if his team had convinced him they could challenge next term.

“It’s too early to say but I saw many, many good things that I didn’t see in the past, especially from where we were.

“The relation between the players and our captains helps a lot, and the backroom staff.

“It’s sad because I felt that we were happy here. The training sessions had been really, really good – all of them.

“But the level in these competitions, Club World Cup, (is high).”

City looked on course for the quarter-finals after taking an early lead through Bernardo Silva but they paid the price for missing a series of chances to increase their advantage.

Marcos Leonardo and Malcom turned the game around for Al-Hilal early in the second half.

Erling Haaland forced extra time but City required a Phil Foden volley to level again after Kalidou Koulibaly headed Al-Hilal back in front.

City could not regain the initiative and Leonardo settled an eventful contest – securing a statement victory for Saudi football in the process – after 112 minutes.

Question marks remain