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Rodri's return sparks Man City dominance in Club World Cup thrashing of Juventus
Pep Guardiola hailed the long-awaited return of midfield linchpin Rodri, whose first start since September last year spearheaded Manchester City's emphatic 5-2 victory over Juventus in the Club World Cup.
The Spanish midfielder's commanding performance underscored just how much the Premier League champions had missed his presence.
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City's triumph secured them the top spot in Group G, setting up a last-16 tie against Al Hilal as they look to claim a bigger portion of the unprecedented $1 billion prize pool in the expanded tournament.
Rodri, who had featured from the bench in City's previous two Club World Cup matches against Wydad AC (a 2-0 win) and Al Ain (a 6-0 win), was at the heart of everything positive for City against Juventus. Despite recovering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in September 2024, he played longer than initially anticipated, a testament to his fitness and desire.
What Guardiola said
The City boss highlighted Rodri's impact on the team's defensive solidity. Guardiola further emphasised his midfielder's elite status with a playful jab.
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14:18 - 27.06.2025
I scored 11 - Guardiola hails Haaland after Man City star's landmark goal
Pep Guardiola has lauded Erling Haaland after the Manchester City striker scored in the 5-2 win over Juventus at the Club World Cup.
He said, "Sooner or later Rodri had to start. I said, 'okay, 45 minutes' but at half-time he said he wanted five to 10 minutes more. The game was under control.
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09:45 - 26.06.2025
Injury blow: Guardiola confirms Man City setback before Juventus clash
Pep Guardiola has revealed that a Manchester City player will miss two weeks due to an ankle injury, impacting his Club World Cup participation.
"In the last few games we have conceded a lot of transitions but it didn't happen this time. Everyone knows how important Rodri is. He is one of the best players in the world. When they're not in a team, they're missed."
"Rodri won the Ballon d'Or!" (referencing Rodri's 2024 Ballon d'Or win). "Having him back in the team, you can see the difference and how important he is. First game back starting against a big team, he showed his qualities and he had a lot of impact. I'm happy for him."
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Goals from Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Savinho, and a Pierre Kalulu own goal completed City's rampant five-goal haul. Juventus found the net twice through Teun Koopmeiners and Dusan Vlahovic, but it was a mere consolation on an evening dominated by City.
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