Man City at the Club World Cup 2025: New Squad, New Style
The reigning champion of the FIFA Club World Cup, the Sky Blues, has once again made a strong statement on the global stage. It currently dominates the Club World Cup 2025 with confidence. Their 6-0 demolition of Al Ain, with three goals scored in each half, highlighted a refreshed squad and an improved strategic approach. With two wins from two matches, both City and Juventus have already secured their spots in the round of 16, setting up a crucial final clash for the top spot in Group G. Still unbeaten in the tournament across two participations, Cityzens have an impeccable record – four wins, 15 goals scored, and none conceded. As expectation grows, top global bookmakers are launching exclusive promos, free spins, and setting odds for upcoming Man City matches.
New Cycle for Man City
Let's face it, the 2024/25 season was unsuccessful for the Blues. Four consecutive victories in the Premier League and all the efforts on the field brought them only third place this year. To add fuel to the fire, the round of 16 was the last in the Champions League for Man City; plus, they succumbed to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final. Consequently, the head coach, Pep Guardiola, has tasked the team to concentrate on the Club World Cup 2025 fully.
The Citizens is a reigning champion of the Club World Cup, winning their last title in 2023. In the current draw, the team has already won two matches (against Wydad AC and Al Ain), thus continuing their unbeaten streak since 2023. Leading football experts claim that this all happened thanks to various experiments by the head coach.
New Captain
First of all, the Spaniard has chosen Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva as a new captain for the Blues. Kevin De Bruyne was at the helm before him, but the guy left the club in the summer and moved to Napoli. According to Guardiola, Silva is an incredible player who knows exactly how to rule the team in difficult moments.
Tactics
Guardiola requires footballers to play short passes and control the ball as much as possible in all areas. The team is obliged to more actively press the opponent in their half of the field and do everything to return the ball and create plenty of scoring opportunities quickly. Based on a new experiment during the Club World Cup, the Citizens should play even faster and more combinational football and try to make the most of all the free space on the field.
What will the Squad look like?
Without exaggeration, the frankly unsuccessful 2024/25 season has undoubtedly angered the club's management. That is why the team's chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, ordered Guardiola to start changes in the team, which has already begun to prepare for a major restructuring. First of all, some players may be forced to leave the squad.
A list of 17 players who are not very trusted by the coaching staff has been prepared. Moreover, for various reasons, some players who cannot get many playing minutes will be forced to leave the Citizens, too. Thus, the main candidates for sale are Kyle Walker, Calvin Phillips, and Jack Grealish. By the way, the latter did not even make it to the Club World Cup application.
Ilkay Gündogan, whose return from Barcelona did not go as expected, could also leave. Many celebrated young players like James Makati, Claudio Echeverri, and Rico Lewis are also on the list. According to experts, it is possible that Ederson, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, and Nico Gonzalez could also be sold.
Judged by the above, the misplacement of these players may be undesirable for the team:
- German midfielder Ilkay Gündogan
- English defender Kyle Walker
- English midfielder Jack Grealish
- Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic
- Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson
What to Expect from Man City in the 25/26 season?
Experience shows that bookmakers are always very careful in determining possible odds for the City to win in a particular tournament. The odds change on the final whistle, once the team wins or loses. E.g., today the odds for the Citizens’ triumph in the EPL next season may be 2.2, tomorrow – 1.9, and the day after tomorrow – 3.5. This change depends on the team’s EPL opponents as well.
The Sky Blues enter the 25/26 season as strong contenders across all major tournaments, mostly owing to Guardiola’s rapidly developing new tactical system. Of course, some key departures may somewhat change the team’s dynamics. However, the core remains very strong.
Currently, the average estimated betting odds look like:
· EPL Win – 2.45.
· Champions League Win – 3.70.
· Super Cup Win – 1.88.
It should also be noted that Guardiola's new playing style may enhance betting confidence in early fixtures. Consequently, while not risk-free, betting on the Citizens remains a planned gamble with positive potential.
Summary
Finally, experts state that the Sky Blues' 2025 Club World Cup campaign is less about getting the trophy. It is more about fine-tuning their refreshed squad and pioneering new tactics. The current tournament, first and foremost, serves as a ground for new tactical experiments, which must set the stage for future success. While the Citizens aim to compete fiercely, the focus remains on adaptation and growth. Consequently, both fans and management are aligned in their expectations – the Blues must dominate the 25/26 season with as many victories as possible. Experts at the gambling portal cardmates.co.uk add that the new strategy may affect bookmakers’ odds.