Manchester City kicked off their Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Wydad AC in Philadelphia, thanks to goals from Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku. The only downside was Rico Lewis’ red card, which sparked frustration from Pep Guardiola and fans.
A major positive was Rodri’s return from a long-term knee injury. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner played 30 minutes — his most since early last season — as City carefully manage his comeback. Guardiola stressed the importance of a step-by-step return, saying Rodri wants more minutes but needs to follow the recovery process.
Rodri is expected to start City’s next match against Al Ain in Atlanta, with Guardiola planning to rotate the squad and give game time to 10 new players. The midfielder could feature for up to an hour as City continue to build his fitness throughout the tournament.
