Manchester City coach enjoys the opportunity to connect with American fans at the Club World Cup

Manchester City coach Guardiola introduced the Club World Cup and his youth development approach to FIFA. Manchester City, who drew to Group G, are Vidard (Morocco), UAE Football Club and Juventus Football Club. As one of the most honored coaches in football history, Guardiola will seek another important title when leading Manchester City to the 2025™ FIFA Club World Cup.

is now his ninth year for the English giants, and the legendary Spaniard has been a puppet of Manchester City's unprecedented success era. He led them to six Premier League titles, two FA Cup titles, four UEFA Cup titles and one UEFA Champions League title. Under his leadership, City also won the world championship, and the unyielding, determined 54-year-old is now going to prove again that City is the best team on the planet. The

Club World Cup offers Guardiola and his team a great opportunity to show their strength again after a challenging season. Although they were beaten to win the Premier League for the first time since 2020, City ended the season with an ominous form. The Blues finished 7 wins and 2 draws in the last nine top league games and ended up in third place, and it looks like they are just in the US for the trophy. In an extensive interview before the Club World Cup, Guardiola spoke about his excitement for this groundbreaking new event, the legendary American sports duo he admired very much, his passion for developing young talents, and how John Cruyff shaped his coaching career.

FIFA: Guardiola, how much are you looking forward to leading Manchester City to the Club World Cup?

Guardiola: This is an honor. This means we have done a great job in the Champions League and in the domestic league over the past few seasons. This is a new game for us and I'm looking forward to it.

You will have the opportunity to connect with City fans in the United States. How important is this to the club?

This is really cool. We played preseason in Asia and sometimes in the US, you can see a lot of blue jerseys in the stands. Of course, our fan base has expanded a lot over the past decade because people may enjoy watching our games. They requested autographs and photos with our players. This makes us very proud.

You will play against teams from different continents. Is this something you like?

Even in the domestic league, there are different head coaches, different cultures, different styles and game styles. Of course (on the Century Cup) you might be playing against teams from Oceania, Asia, South America… with different visions, different types of players and cultures. That's fine.

You have won a lot at Manchester City. What does it mean to increase this legacy by winning the Club World Cup?

Well, that's great, we can't deny it. But there are 31 other teams who want the same thing. Usually, when I start an event – ​​like the Premier League – I never want to start thinking, 'Oh, we'll win. You have to win. This is a step by step.

You have been helping to develop young players throughout your career. For example, we see this in Lionel Messi and recently Phil Foden. What makes these special talents stand out at a young age?

Their mentality. The skills will always exist. Of course, some players have more skills than others, but the difference is their mentality and how eager they are. This is what the greatest player has and what other players don't have. This is the truth. This could come from parents, through education (playing on the street), their early head coaches, or their teammates on the court. There are many influences that can help them find their mindset.

How do you cultivate this kind of talent? How did you develop this skill?

I was influenced by my former manager and helped me open my mind, especially my mentor, Johan Cruyff. He opened my mind and helped me imagine how I played. I'm pretty sure I might have had a hard time becoming a manager without the impact of John Cruyff on my football career.

You have lived in the United States for a while. What was that experience like?

Yes, after spending some time in Barcelona, ​​our whole family took a year off. We live in New York, and as we all know, it is a special city. You can definitely be busy there!

Finally, the United States also has a rich history of sports. Are there any American athletes you particularly admire?

I would say Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. They are two idols, and they have transformed the global movement.