Manchester City 2-0 Wydad AC (Foden 2, Doku 42)
Lewis sent off after late VAR decision upheld
This midday kick-off in the Philadelphia heat that ended in victory against Morocco’s Wydad AC offered a glimpse of Manchester City’s hopes for the 2025-26 campaign as their Club World Cup defence was given the best start.
It told us that Tijjani Reijnders can operate in the No 6 or “Rodri role” for Pep Guardiola despite being bought to scheme primarily as a No 8. It said that City’s high line remains a weakness though mitigation could be found in their big defensive guns, Rúben Dias and John Stones, being substitutes only.
In Phil Foden’s opener-plus-assist for Jérémy Doku’s second we may have witnessed the start of a renaissance after City’s season horribilis last term. Rico Lewis, meanwhile, will pray for better officiating than the late VAR decision that upheld Ramon Abatti showing him a straight red card: City’s right-back swept the ball away then – unluckily – booted Samuel Obeng’s face.
