MAN CITY 2, SHEFF UTD 0
Newly crowned FIFA World Club Cup champions Manchester City brought the curtain down on a remarkable 2023 with victory against Sheffield United.
“It has been a decent season winning five trophies and I am so proud,” explained manager Pep Guardiola.
City are renowned for strong finishes to the year as they had lost only one of 22 last games of the calendar year.
This one was never in doubt as City won without barely breaking sweat.
In terms of damage limitation, it was a moral victory for bottom-club Blades as they only lost by two goals from Rodri and Julian Alvarez earned City victory which lifts them to third place in the Premier League.
And with only two points separating the top four teams, it is shaping up to be one of the most compelling title races for many years.
City, who form had stuttered before going to the FIFA World Club Cup, has certainly hit the ground running since their return from Saudi Arabia where they were crowned word champions.
They won at Everton and followed their success at Goodison Park by cutting the Blades down to size.
Apart from a shortage of goals, it was an otherwise perfect performance, a staggering 82 per cent possession 938 passes, 18 goal attempts to four from the visitors.
Guardiola said: “Always difficult – similar to [Crystal] Palace but maybe we learned from that. Pleased for the clean sheet, a tough month for us in Saudi Arabia but I think that helped us a lot winning the Club World Cup.
“We’re not top of the league but we’re not far away. Titles we won this season. Mood is good, now we rest a bit and have a few days off.
Embed from Getty Images“We’ve played these types of games many times, we know and sometimes we handle good sometimes not. Against Villa they played the same system, it’s tight and difficult. We didn’t concede any set pieces second half and when Oscar [Bobb] came in we increased tempo in the final third and created chances.”
Guardiola was also delighted to have Kevin de Bruyne back on the bench, saying: “Really good – we’ve been waiting a long time for him.
“He’s turning good the last week or so. He came for the trophies today for the picture and to be here and realise when to warm up and how the people support him and look forward to seeing him again. Maybe Newcastle he will be ready.”
Rodri said: “We learned from the last games against Crystal Palace, same feeling of the game controlling but at the end they had chances, and we drew.
“We had to keep focussing and they [Sheff Utd] didn’t have the intention to come to us so we had to keep the ball. Important for us this victory.”
And on the return from winning the Club World Cup, Rodri added: “It always gives you a boost, world champions is a dream come true but it’s far away and you have to travel and push yourself.
“You have to put in effort and be together, but it is what it is. We just go through as a team, whoever plays, today we had two or three changes and it’s still so good.”
Blades’ manager Chris Wilder was delighted with the efforts of his side, saying: “It feels like we played for five hours.
“When we walked out and saw the five trophies, it hits home what they have achieved. Congratulations from everyone at Sheffield United to what this great manager has done.”
Wilder added they might be light on Premier League experience, but they were not light in fight or character.
He said: “There are no downers today. I am not daft and it underlines who we were playing against. It is difficult for top teams coming here and plenty have been done five or six in their form, vibe and feel about the place.
“We are not being defeatist but pragmatic as we have been a team struggling and we had to hang in and take our big moments which we didn’t.
“We stuck at it, and it was a great experience for the younger players who have not played at this level and in this arena before.”
De Bruyne was on the bench for City who made two changes from the side that beat Everton on Wednesday.
It was the first time de Bruyne had made a matchday squad since August when he was sidelined with a hamstring injury he picked up in City’s opening game of the season at Burnley.
Mateo Kovacic replaced Matheus Nunes in midfield and, with John Stones out with the ankle injury he sustained against the Toffees, Josko Gvardiol came into their defence at left-back, with Nathan Ake moving across to partner Manuel Akanji in the middle.
United made five changes after their 3-2 defeat by Luton on Tuesday.
With centre-half Anel Ahmedhodzic suspended, the Blades went with five across the back with Jayden Bogle returning after suspension on the right and Luke Thomas coming in on the left.
James McAtee was ineligible to face his parent club while Gustavo Hamer was suspended so Oliver Norwood and Anis Ben Slimane came into midfield. William Osula led the line with Cameron Archer and Olie McBurnie both dropping to the bench.
It was quite an occasion pre-match as the FIFA World Club Cup was paraded along with the four other trophies City hold.
There was also a moment pre-match of reflection to remember members of the City and Sheffield United families who have been lost in the last 12 months,
These included former City greats Francis Lee and Trevor Francis as well as footballer turned journalist Paul Hince and former director Tudor Thomas.
City started brightly with Alvarez firing narrowly wide inside three minutes.
And City made the breakthrough just before the quarter hour when Rodri picked up a loose ball in midfield and drove forward before firing low past Wes Foderingham from 18 yards for his fifth goal of the season.
Alvarez almost doubled the lead soon after when his header looped narrowly over the bar and Bernardo Silva forced a fine save from Foderingham.
It was one-way traffic as Kyle Walker fired a 30-yarder which fizzed just wide.
The frustration boiled over when Guardiola picked up his fourth booking of the season when City were not awarded what he perceived was a clear foul.
The Blades were frustrating City but also a threat on the break through their pacy front players.
Anis Ben Slimane broke on the right and crossed for William Osula whose near post goalbound shot was blocked by Manuel Akanji.
And from the resulting corner, Osula’s header forced a diving save from Ederson.
City made their first change within six minutes of the restart when Jack Grealish was replaced by Norwegian youngster Oscar Bobb.
They were finding it increasingly frustrating against United’s packed defence, but they finally made it 2-0 just after the hour.
Bobb released Foden on the left and he squared a pass to the far post for Alvarez, sliding in, to net from only three yards for his 12th of the season.
Guardiola made two further changes mid-half as Walker and Mateo Kovacic made way for Ruben Dias and Rico Lewis but they saw out the final quarter without seriously looking like extending their advantage but neither were they threatened defensively.