Man City’s shocking 4-3 defeat to Al Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup has left Pep Guardiola with what he calls “a little regret” — and fans stunned after a thrilling seven-goal clash that ended the Premier League side’s run in dramatic fashion.
From being favourites to losing out in extra time, this match proved why football never fails to surprise, Footballrover reports.
Guardiola left to reflect as Al Hilal stun Man City
City went into the game as strong favourites but were undone by a determined Saudi side who made every chance count.
Bernardo Silva fired the EPL team ahead early, yet Marcos Leonardo and Malcom flipped the game with quick goals for Al Zaeem.
Pep Guardiola praised his players’ spirit but admitted that the Saudi Pro League team were ruthless on the break.
“It is a pity. We have been on an incredible journey together and were in a good place. The vibe was really good,” Guardiola said after the game.
“I cannot thank the players enough for training and playing how they have been. But it was a difficult game. The margins were minimal,” he added.
Guardiola highlighted how City created more scoring chances but failed to be clinical in front of goal.
He pointed to Yassine Bounou’s stunning saves and Simeone Inzaghi’s quick wingers who exploited every gap.
Man City’s missed chances give Saudi team famous win
Even with Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scoring his 100th goal to keep City in the fight, their opponent had the final say.
Koulibaly and Leonardo struck late, sealing an unforgettable win. Guardiola accepted the blame, saying City were “so open” and gave Al Hilal too much room to counter and punished them on the break.
“We regret a little bit that we allowed them to run a bit more. They defended so deep, and the wingers were so quick,” he explained.
With the tournament only coming once every four years, Guardiola wished the journey could continue.
Instead, City will head home, regroup, and shift focus to the new season.
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Last Updated on July 1, 2025 11:00 am by Sir Kris
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