Sergio Aguero was knocking about in Orlando, watching some of the lads he used to line up alongside and the big man who ultimately replaced his goals and more. Wristband on, VIP treatment from a veranda. As a man of his standing deserves, of course.
Aguero met up with some Manchester City staff as they hammered Juventus and will have looked on with envy at the fluidity with which Pep Guardiola’s fresher side are now operating. Chances aplenty for a poacher like him and City appear that bit freer at the Club World Cup.
Guardiola could barely contain delight at the improvements in a short space of time. While City did their job in hunting down a Champions League spot at the end of the season, they weren’t doing so with this sort of panache and, while Juventus only finished fourth in Serie A, a 5-2 victory was a bit of a statement.
‘A statement for ourselves,’ Guardiola said. ‘I had the feeling the players felt that we can compete in the way we did the last decade and create incredible things. We have to re-find ourselves again.
‘That’s the most important thing in this period here. Of course we want to win the World Cup but (also) connect ourselves again like we were.’
Seeing him excitedly spin to celebrate with new No 2 Pep Lijnders when Erling Haaland clumsily bundled in a slick move was a major indicator of how City’s manager is viewing the improvement.
Manchester City’s statement win over Juventus has complicated the club’s plan to sell
Pep Guardiola was delighted with his side’s improvement as City returned to their slick best
Erling Haaland was on target while a couple of players at risk of the chop impressed
He is noticing those old patterns that are being drilled during lengthy sessions in the heat and how Savinho dropped deep, allowing Tijjani Reijnders to power into space, was pure City.
Reijnders played in Matheus Nunes, ahead of both of his central midfielder and winger. Ball across, Haaland stumbles over the line. This is manipulation of space that we became so accustomed to with City but that had recently vanished.
Nunes and Savinho. Two of those heavily criticised last year. Savinho for his output, or lack thereof, and Nunes for mistakes at right back. Both, you’d say from the outside looking in, who could be under threat were City to offload players to make sure nobody is left out of the 25-man Champions League squad.
A bit of competition won’t hurt Savinho, with Oscar Bobb returning and the signing of Rayan Cherki. On Thursday, he made sure to answer some questions about his development since joining from Troyes, via a loan at Girona. More direct, good connection with his right back. A nice, simple assist for Phil Foden. A little extra bite.
Guardiola made allowances for the Brazilian during his first year, with the adaptation to English football, and had been impressed with his start amid some niggling injuries, before form fell away.
Nunes did a job for the team in reverting to right back but has continued there in America. There are reservations about his defensive capabilities, and Guardiola knows the Portuguese’s limitations, although he did insist that he’d made a ‘step up’ in recent weeks.
The way he spoke was that Nunes can be coached into a strong right back but not that he is close right now.
‘We need him a lot and I desperately want him to be with us,’ Guardiola said, suggesting conversations have taken place over his future. ‘There is a lot of love and he’s an incredibly funny guy.’
There are reservations over Matheus Nunes at right back but he has stayed there in the US
Guardiola will be buoyed by members of his squad stepping up, but the summer is now harder
It does further beg the question of who actually leaves eventually when this tournament has been and gone.
City’s management team will be buoyed by certain members of this squad sticking their hand up for recognition, although it might make the summer that bit harder.
