In the early morning of December 20, Beijing time, the semi-finals of the Club World Cup will stage a key battle, with Champions League champion Manchester City and AFC Champions League champion Urawa Red Diamonds meeting in a narrow way to fight for a place in the final. At the pre-match press conference, Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva was present and answered questions from reporters. Faced with the question of whether Manchester City can maintain a long-term victory, Seat B's answer is quite domineering:Are you already suspicious of us now?
Before going to the Club World Cup, Manchester City drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace in the 17th round of the Premier League, and only won one game in the last six Premier League rounds, slipping from the top of the table to fourth in the standings, and has been thrown away by Arsenal by 5 points. With De Bruyne, Haaland and other main players all hanging up their exemption cards, Manchester City is indeed in big trouble. And this is the main reason why the reporter asked the question of "whether Manchester City can maintain their long-term victory".
However, Bench B clearly disagrees, admitting that the absence of the likes of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne has put the pressure on the team. But he also said, ".Manchester City have always had a strong team and that's something I've felt so much during my time at the club. Our biggest strength is that we can maintain a consistent performance no matter which key player is absent because everyone is an integral part of the team. We will fight together for all the championships, no matter what the challenges we face.
It is not for nothing that Seat B said this, as Manchester City trailed Arsenal by as much as eight points at one point last season, and sent away the troubled main left-back Joao Cancelo in the winter window. However, in the ensuing period, Manchester City won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League with a unique set of 3-2-4-1 tactical three-line success, achieving the first European treble in the team's history.
Now, Manchester City are only five points behind Arsenal and in the absence of two key players. So, the situation they are facing is actually no worse than last season. The good news is that Manchester City's midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has come to Saudi Arabia with the team and participated in joint training, although his early return is not very likely, but he will definitely announce his return in January next year, when Manchester City's forward line will usher in the strongest boost, Haaland, Alvarez, Foden and Doku and other 00 four small will also be really powerful.
Of course, given that Tintin has just returned, it is unrealistic to expect him to find his peak form quickly, and with Phillips set to leave, it is still necessary for Manchester City to strengthen in the winter window. A defender-capable midfielder or a midfield commander with excellent passing playmaking skills are what the team desperately needs at the moment. Recently, Portugal international Palinha, who plays for Fulham, has been rumored to have an affair with Manchester City, and Paqueta, the core of West Ham United midfield, has not completely broken off his fate with Manchester City. If one of these two big players can come, it will be able to straighten Manchester City's waist. If both can come, then the real counterattack can begin.