Pep Guardiola gives verdict on Man City winning Club World Cup

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says winning the Club World Cup will not make up for the club’s disappointment of last season.

For the first time in eight years, City failed to win a major trophy but clinched the Community Shield at the beginning of the campaign, beating Manchester United on penalties.

Guardiola’s side ended the campaign third in the Premier League, failed to reach the last 16 in the Champions League and were beaten in the FA Cup final by Crystal Palace.

Man City, along with Chelsea, are the only two English sides currently competing at the revamped Club World Cup in the United States.

City opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over Moroccan side Wydad AC, and another three points against UAE club Al-Ain in Atlanta on Sunday will secure progression to the last 16.

“I said many times, the season was not good,” said Pep Guardiola.

“When you finish third in the Premier League to qualify for the Champions League, it means 70 teams were worse than us.

“We played the FA Cup final in an incredibly high level against a really good team. The disappointment was the Champions League, we did not do really good.It was tough to handle it.

“Winning this competition is not going to change that but my mindset at the moment is not about winning the competition.

“We can extend our time here, being here longer. For the South American teams, the competition may be the maximum. For European teams, it is [just] a World Cup.”

Al-Ain manager Vladimir Ivic said: “When you play against the best ones, you want to be the best of yourself.

“I am sure my players will give the maximum, trying from the first until the last, to show themselves the best way against the best one. We have to believe in ourselves and my team.”