City’s 4-0 win over Fluminense in Saudi Arabia saw us win a fifth major honour across 2023, and become the first English side to hold the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup at the same time.
But with a difficult assignment away to Everton in just four days, Guardiola’s men will need to refocus quickly as we look to maintain our position in the Premier League title race.
The City boss has no doubts that he and the players are ready for the challenge though, insisting we need to ‘buy a new book’ and write another chapter in our illustrious recent history.
“When I close the chapter, it’s for the fact of eight years of incredible work behind the scenes. It’s unbelievable what we’ve done,” Guardiola explained in his post-match press conference.
“I have the feeling that of course today we’ll celebrate on the plane and tomorrow we rest. Goodison Park isn’t maybe the best to come back after winning the Club World Cup, honestly.
“But we’ll try to buy a new book and start to write beautiful histories. The players are still there, incredibly hungry and motivated. I’m really pleased for many people in the Club for many years.
“It’s a beautiful day. I could never have thought when I arrived in Manchester that we’d do what we have together, the titles we’ve won and winning the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.”
In an otherwise hugely positive night for City, there was slight cause for concern when Rodrigo was forced off in Jeddah after a late collision.
But while the Spain international was substituted soon after the incident, he was still able to celebrate our momentous achievement with the rest of the team out on the pitch.
Asked for an update on Rodrigo’s fitness, the boss revealed that a more detailed assessment would be made closer to our trip to Goodison Park.
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He added: “I didn’t speak [with Rodrigo]. It looks like he feels good.
“It was a scare. The action was really tough.
“We’ll see in the next days how he reacts. I don’t know right now.”
