Josep Guardiola has set his sights on the Club World Cup to end the set after Manchester City got off to a poor start by beating Sevilla on penalties to win the UEFA Super Cup.
Two months after they became the second English club in history to win the treble, the Champions League winners faced record Europa League winners in Greece.
Sevilla took the lead with a powerful header from Youssef En-Nesiri and had plenty of chances to increase their lead before City hit back with a header from Cole Palmer.
The Super Cup ended 1-1 in the 90th minute, with Guardiola’s side winning 5-4 on penalties after Nemanja Gudel took the last penalty in the shoot-out from the crossbar.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 16, 2023
It was the first time City have won the competition and the Spaniard is determined to add the Club World Cup to his cabinet in December.
“Of course we are not in our best, best moment, I would say,” Guardiola said after winning his fourth Super Cup as a manager.
“But knowing a few players and the mentality of the behind-the-scenes staff, I had a feeling that we would try.
“We are very pleased that this season we already have one title. I am very happy for the club – we did not have this title, but now we have it.
“We just need one more thing to complete the whole circle and have the opportunity for this club to win all the titles we can have. It happens in December when we go to Saudi Arabia to play there in the (Club) World Cup.
“I would say very, very satisfied. Tight game, like it was in the (Champions League) final against Inter, a tight game that we lost in the last minute to Arsenal (in the Community Shield). Football at these stages, at that moment, at that period is a coin (toss).”
It was an exhausting night for City in the hot and humid Piraeus, where the match kicked off at 10pm local time and ended early Thursday morning.
It’s a quick turnaround from the ordeal that propelled Guardiola to Premier League victory for scheduling his next match against Newcastle on Saturday night.
“Of course, tomorrow will be even happier than today,” he said, as City are scheduled to return to the North West on Thursday.
“Get well soon, not a drop of alcohol today. Get well as much as you can because once again a big thank you from Greece for allowing the Premier League to let us play on Saturday. Not on Sunday and Monday. Thank you very much.”
City’s Man of the Match was Palmer’s Man of the Match who, after his excellent finish in an eventual loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield shootout, scored a smart header in Greece.
The 21-year-old has been the subject of speculation this summer and Guardiola ruled out loaning the homegrown talent.
“I was of the opinion when he arrived that he wanted to leave, but now I don’t know what will happen,” he said.
“I don’t think there will be a loan. He is going to stay or is going to be sold, but I don’t think there will be a loan.
“He has character. It’s not easy to play against defenders like (Marcos) Acuna, who is the best defender.
“It’s not easy, this is the final. He is a young player playing in these stages. These guys are not easy. He played very, very well and scored a fantastic goal.”
As for Sevilla, the grief in the shootout was the sixth consecutive loss in the Super Bowl.
Head coach José Luis Mendilibar said: “Making a good plan against a good team like City is very difficult. I would really like us to play higher on the pitch and put more pressure on them.
“When we had chances to score the second goal, we did not take them. But I really think we played a good game and probably created more chances than them.”