Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, has praised Wydad Athletic Club, remarking that the Moroccan side brought something he didn’t expect.
City secured a 2–0 victory over a tenacious Wydad side in the teams’ opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The English giants opened the scoring in the second minute through Phil Foden and added a second goal via Jeremy Doku just minutes before half-time.
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Notably, Thembinkosi Lorch stood out among the Wydad players, with the South African star creating his side’s best chances at goal.
Despite conceding early, Wydad’s defensive display improved markedly in the second half, and opposition manager Guardiola admitted that this caught him somewhat by surprise.
“When we let them play, they showed quality,” Guardiola said in his post-match press conference, according to AfricaSoccer.
“They have five defenders, a compact block. We didn’t expect that—I thought they were going to play with four."
Guardiola also praised Wydad goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid, highlighting his composure and ability with the ball at his feet.
“Their goalkeeper has a very good clearance,” he added.
“They had one or two chances, and overall, it was a difficult game for everyone with the heat. I give a lot of credit to both teams.”
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By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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