Pep Guardiola details Club World Cup danger for Man City and sends warning to squad

Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City players to take the "unpredictable" threat of Urawa Red Diamonds seriously in Tuesday's Club World Cup semi-final.

City are in the competition for the first time and are overwhelming favourites to win a fifth trophy in 2023, but Guardiola is guarding against complacency and uncertainty in Jeddah.

His side are likely to be without Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland for the semi-final and although Kevin De Bruyne trained at the King Abdullah Sports City complex on Monday, the Belgian is still unlikely to play a part on Tuesday or on Friday, when City will feature in the final or the third/fourth place play-off.

ALSO READ: De Bruyne back in training but Doku and Haaland still absent

ALSO READ: Phillips' Premier League exit could solve two problems for City

They will expect to be in the final of a competition European sides have dominated in recent years, with City aiming to become the 11th successive European side to be crowned world champions. But Guardiola insists there is no complacency within his ranks as to how routine it has become for the Champions League winners in this competition.

"I don’t know the perception of the people. It’s a pleasure to be here, it’s an honour," he said. "It’s the first time City have been here. We don’t want to take it for granted, it’s a privilege. For the other clubs, it’s an honour to be here.

"Europe is economically stronger, but the preparation and managers I don’t know. Europe is stronger economically which is why players want to go to Europe to play. To sit here, play tomorrow, you’d have to do something exceptional in the past. You have to take it."

City enter this competition at the semi-final stage but Urawa Red Diamonds have already