Guardiola is disappointed.

Six goals, an absolutely dominant performance, and a ticket to the round of 16 - but for Pep Guardiola, that was still "not enough".

New signing Rayan Cherki Echeverri shone in Man City's 6-0 victory , scoring his first goal for Man City in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ match against Al Ain on the morning of June 23rd.

In the eyes of the Spanish coach, failing to score a seventh goal against Al-Ain at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ on June 23rd was not just a minor detail – it was a sign of failure.

Manchester City thrashed the UAE side 6-0 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, leveling points and goal difference with Juventus in Group G. However, the problem is that Juve are currently ahead by just one goal. And in the race for the top spot – which could decide the rest of the tournament – ​​that small detail could be incredibly significant.

“We tried to score a seventh goal, but we failed,” Guardiola said after the match with unusual disappointment. It was a statement in very “Pep” style. Winning alone isn’t enough; everything needs to be optimized down to the last detail.

Because if they don't finish top of their group, Man City are likely to face Real Madrid in the round of 16. If they do finish top, their opponent will only be Red Bull Salzburg – a much easier challenge. Guardiola, of course, understands better than anyone the cost of a small mistake in the knockout stage.

Pep wants Man City to score more goals against Al-Ain.

Beyond tactical considerations and strategic planning, the 6-0 victory against Al-Ain also highlighted important personnel issues. Rodri, who had just returned from a cruciate ligament injury, was brought on as a substitute and played for approximately 30 minutes.

“He still struggles in tackles, needs to be stronger, but he played better today than in the last game. We miss him a lot. Any team will miss the best player in the world ,” Pep said.

The praise for Rodri is not only professional but also reveals Guardiola's insecurity. In his system, Rodri is a crucial link – the orchestrator, the balancer, and sometimes the one who seals the deal. Without him, Man City loses the axis that balances control and defense.

Another unfortunate detail was the injury to Claudio Echeverri, the young signing who had just scored his first goal for the team. Despite making a strong impression, Echeverri had to leave the field after the first half due to an ankle sprain.

"That's the problem that prevented him from continuing. It's a shame, because Echeverri is a great talent, extremely excellent in tight spaces," Guardiola shared regretfully.

Amidst the impressive statistics, Guardiola couldn't hide his demanding nature. The 6-0 victory didn't bring a sense of complete satisfaction, as the group standings still hadn't shifted in his favor. That's Pep's nature: always demanding more, always obsessed with perfection – even when things are already very close to it. And that's precisely why Manchester City are so formidable.

Source: https://znews.vn/guardiola-that-vong-post1563026.html