JEDDA.- Manchester City was too good and also a bit lucky to beat the Fluminense in the final of Club World Cup on Friday 4-0 to lift their fifth title of 2023.
City opened the scoring after 40 seconds to take any tension out of the game. The Argentinian Julian Alvarez quickly recovered a rebound after the shot Nathan Ake that hit the post.
An own goal Childcaptain of the Fluminenseon the 27th he decided the match before Phil Foden scored in the 72nd with a pass from Álvarez, who shot at the goal again in the 88th.
This is the first title of Manchester City in it Club World Cup and the 16th in 17 editions for Europe in the continental champions competition of the FIFA.
City cruised to a second uneventful victory in less than four days in Saudi Arabiaeven without their superstars Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, who are out due to injury. They also missed the semi-final victory against Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday.
The absences surely explained the empty seats in the stadium that had 52,601 attendances in the King Abdullah Sports City, the Jeddah stadium and which is one of the planned venues for the World Cup 2034.
With this victory, Pep Guardiola He became the first coach to win the Club World Cup with three different teams. He led to Barcelona to the title in 2009 and 2011 and to Bayern Munich in 2013, with a team that won the Champions League under the orders of Jupp Heynckes.
Guardiola celebrated by simply walking to the other side to console the Fluminense coach, Fernando Dinizwith a handshake and the other hand on his shoulder.
At the same time, a fight broke out in the middle of the field. Fluminense when the defender Felipe Melo40 years old, confronted Kyle Walker. Later Guardiola could be seen joking with Melo.
Fluminense had six players born in the 1980s in its starting team and they were received with disrespect after the British press highlighted the veteran team. City’s oldest player is captain Walker, 33, who was born in May 1990.
City’s power:
The final included two teams that played in the third division in their countries in 1999. City has since become the team that generates the most profits per yearwith 890 million dollars during the 2022-23 season, when they won the triple of titles and have an annual salary of 530 million. Fluminense He said he expects to earn 74 million this year.
Hours before, the Al Ahly of Egypt and champion of Africa beat the 4-2 Red Diamonds of Japan and Asian champions, to take third place in the tournament.
FOUNTAIN: AP
