Pep Guardiola left stunned after Al Hilal defeat in Club World Cup

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola couldn’t hide his disappointment after his side suffered a stunning 4-3 defeat in extra time against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, crashing out of the FIFA Club World Cup in Orlando on Monday.

Coming into the knockout stage on the back of a commanding group phase, capped by a 5-2 win over Juventus, City were firm favourites to lift the trophy.

But their campaign came to a halt in dramatic fashion as Al Hilal capitalised on defensive lapses and blistering counter-attacks to produce one of the most unexpected results of the tournament.

“It is a pity. We’ve been on an incredible journey together, and in a good place,” Guardiola said post-match.

“The vibe in the camp was great, the players have trained and played with the right intent. I just want to thank them for that.”

“We would have loved to have continued, you can only be here once every four years, we had a feeling that the team is doing well, but we go home, and now it is time to rest and rest our minds for the new season.”

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Pep Guardiola admitted City were far too open at the back and paid the price for it.

“We were so open. They hurt us on the transitions,” he stated. “When the crosses came in, they had the pace and presence to punish us.”

“We created a lot of chances, but they defended deep and took theirs when it mattered.”

Al Hilal, managed by newly appointed Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, put on a spirited performance despite having just a few weeks together under the new regime.

“It’s barely been three weeks since I took over,” Inzaghi said.

“But the players gave everything. This was extraordinary. To beat Manchester City, you have to do something special, and tonight, the boys delivered.”

Describing the win as “climbing Everest without oxygen,” Inzaghi hailed his squad’s hunger and composure under pressure.

“We knew what we were up against. City is arguably the best in the world. But we believed, and that belief carried us,” he said.

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