JEDDAH: Manchester City’s head coach Pep Guardiola described the FIFA Club World Cup 2023 hosted by Saudi Arabia as “beautiful and very special,” the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
The English Premier League champions Manchester City defeated Brazil’s Fluminense 4-0 to win the 20th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, which the Kingdom hosted for the first time between Dec. 12 and 22, 2023.
Addressing a press conference after his club won their fifth title of 2023, Guardiola expressed extreme joy with their “great triumph and achieving their first international title from Saudi Arabia.”
The Spaniard said they were lucky at the beginning of the confrontation with Fluminense, as they tried to possess the game and pass the ball in a distinctive style, as “we did not find each other at the beginning, and they were stronger.”
He revealed that he looks forward to making history again in the FIFA Club World Cup competition.
Voted as the final match’s best player, City’s Argentinian forward Julian Alvarez said he was very happy with what he has achieved at Manchester City.
“I am so delighted for winning the FIFA World Cup for national teams and the FIFA Club World Cup,” said Alvarez, adding that he won the titles at 23 and that he would remain on the pitch to win more titles and championships.
Meanwhile, his clubmate English footballer Phil Foden told SPA: “Playing the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time and winning it in Saudi Arabia was a very wonderful experience … Everyone was generous to us and the organization was good. It was a nice experience.”
City’s Dutch center-back Nathan Ake said: “The matches were difficult, but the whole experience was wonderful. We were welcomed beautifully, and we were able to win the trophy, so it was a good experience in the Kingdom.”
He concluded that winning five titles in 2023 is a “great achievement,” but they have to continue putting in more effort to win the FIFA Club World Cup again.
Saudi Arabia’s FIFA Club World Cup 2023 was ‘very special,’ says Guardiola
https://arab.news/2vjda
Saudi Arabia’s FIFA Club World Cup 2023 was ‘very special,’ says Guardiola
- Manchester City’s coach expressed extreme joy with their ‘great triumph and achieving their first international title from Saudi Arabia’
- Phil Foden told SPA: ‘Playing the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time and winning it in Saudi Arabia was a very wonderful experience’
Saudi Arabia edge Kyrgyzstan 1-0 in AFC U23 Asian Cup opener
- Al-Nassr’s Rakan Al-Ghamdi struck in the 88th minute as 2022 champions Saudi Arabia got off to a winning start
JEDDAH: Rakan Al-Ghamdi struck late as Saudi Arabia edged a plucky Kyrgyzstan 1-0 in their AFC U23 Asian Cup Group A opener on Tuesday.
Debutants Kyrgyzstan, reduced to 10 men in the 34th minute, looked on course for a point after goalkeeper Kurmanbek Nurlanbekov had saved Musab Al-Juwayr’s penalty but Al-Nassr’s Al-Ghamdi struck in the 88th minute as 2022 champions Saudi Arabia got off to a winning start.
Both sides went on the offensive from the start with Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Radif sending his effort from outside the box high as early as the second minute, while Beknaz Almazbekov had his shot from distance blocked two minutes later.
The hosts began to assert their dominance before suffering a setback in the 13th minute when captain Abdullah Radif was subbed off due to injury with Majed Abdullah taking his place.
However, his absence failed to deter the 2022 champions’ resolve as they almost took the lead in the 15th minute after Abdullah pounced on a stray pass from Anton Polev, only to see his low drive from inside the box saved by Nurlanbekov.
The Central Asian side’s exuberance suffered a dent in the 34th minute when Arsen Sharshenbekov received his marching orders for stamping Abdulaziz Al-Elewai’s ankle, following a VAR review.
Saudi Arabia, however, failed to trouble Nurlanbekov despite the numerical advantage with Kyrgyzstan still very much in the game going into the break.
Nurlanbekov continued to frustrate Saudi Arabia in the second half with the FC Dordoi Bishkek keeper foiling Faris Al-Ghamdi from distance in the 48th minute.
Saudi Arabia almost found the opener just after the hour mark when Yaseen Al-Zubaidi and Abdulaziz Al-Elewai exchanged passes with the latter breaking into the box, only to see his shot from a difficult angle closed down by Nurlanbekov.
Spurred on by their passionate home support, Saudi Arabia’s pressure earned them a penalty in the 74th minute after Arslan Bekberdinov’s handball but Nurlanbekov judged correctly to deny Al-Juwayr from the spot with his outstretched right-handed save.
Saudi Arabia finally found a way through in the 88th minute after Al-Juwayr’s clever pass found Al-Ghamdi, who rifled his shot past Nurlanbekov to seal the victory.
Saudi Arabia will meet Jordan on Friday while Kyrgyzstan will aim to bounce back against Vietnam.
