Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has criticized his team’s defensive display following their dramatic 4-3 loss to Al Hilal in the Club World Cup Round of 16 at the Camping World Stadium.
Despite a spirited performance from both sides, Guardiola expressed frustration over his side’s vulnerability during counter-attacks, noting that Al Hilal capitalized on City’s openness and punished them with their pace.
“We were so open,” Guardiola said in his post-match interview. “When the crosses arrived, in the first action, they had the ability to pass the ball and attack. They’ve got quick players. We created a lot and had many chances against a team that defends very deep, but they punished us on the transitions.”
The match was an intense battle, ending 2-2 after 90 minutes with goals from Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland, Marcos Leonardo, and Malcom. In extra time, Kalidou Koulibaly and Leonardo struck for Al Hilal, sealing the win, while Phil Foden’s late goal was not enough to save the Premier League champions.
The defeat marks a surprising early exit for Manchester City and raises questions about their defensive structure heading into the remainder of the season.
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