Manchester City added another trophy to their cabinet and ended 2023 on a high after winning the FIFA Club World Cup 2023. Pep’s men won the treble last season and added another glory after a 4-0 win over Fluminense in the final. This was the last time that seven clubs appeared in this competition. From 2025, 32 teams will play in this prestigious competition. Manchester City have grown from strength to strength under their Spanish manager and are now crowned as the best club in the world.
One player turned out to be a standout performer for the European champions. FIFA World Cup 2022 winner Julian Alvarez was the player of the finals after some outstanding work on the field. Guardiola was without three key attacking players for the tournament. Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku suffered injuries recently and Kevin De Bruyne has been injured since the start of the season. Pep rested his Argentine forward in the semifinal. Alvarez had a huge responsibility on his hands and here is how he performed in the finals.
Stretching the opposition’s defence
Julian Alvarez is not a proper No. 9. Instead, he likes to use the space available in the attacking zones and gets into different positions in the final third. This has allowed Alvarez to score goals and create a few. In the final match, the forward was everywhere in the final third.
These dangerous attacking positions allow players to make recoveries in the attacking zones. The 23-year-old forward made five recoveries in the attacking half, and three came in the opposition’s final third. These recoveries have allowed players to create shot-taking opportunities for themselves and for their teammates.
Game-changer
Julian Alvarez opened the scoring for his side in the first minute of the match. Nathan Ake’s shot struck the post and Alvarez was the first one to get behind the ball. The Argentine then went on to score another goal. He attempted four shots in the match and two were on target. Alvarez attempted two shots from outside the box and both were blocked.
Manchester City scored four goals in the match and Alvarez was involved in three. He scored a brace and created one goal for Phil Foden. The Argentine attempted 21 passes and delivered 17.
Julian Alvarez is one of the top-rated strikers in the world. He can change the outcome of any match with his individual brilliance. Man City need their young forward to stay at the top of his game and produce results in a title defence season for them.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
