- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 391,840
- Reaction score
- 43
You must be registered for see images attach
Manchester City qualified for the Club World Cup by winning the Champions League in 2023 [Getty Images]
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola doesn't believe his squad deserves any of the £97m prize money their club will pocket by winning the Club World Cup this summer.
World governing body Fifa announced the rewards for doing well at the expanded 32-team event in the United States earlier this week.
Europe's major clubs are expected to get the lion's share, with both City and Chelsea – who qualified by winning the Champions League in 2023 and 2020 respectively - in line to collect the biggest prize pot in club football by winning it.
City start their campaign against Moroccan side Wydad in Philadelphia on 18 June and have been drawn in a group that also contains Al Ain from Abu Dhabi, and Italian challengers Juventus.
Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain are among the other European heavyweights taking part.
However, even if City lift the trophy at the MetLife Stadium on 13 June, Guardiola feels an overall campaign where his side were eliminated from the Champions League before the last-16 stage for the first time since 2013 and are currently fifth in the Premier League - and under severe pressure to secure qualification to Europe's elite competition next season - should not mean an additional reward.
"We don't deserve a bonus this season," said Guardiola. "The bonus, if you win, I don't know how much, it's for the club.
"The managers, the backroom staff, the players, we don't deserve - not even a watch."
The Premier League also confirmed on Thursday top flight clubs will be able to take advantage of an initial transfer window, that will open between 1-10 June, ahead of the tournament, when competing clubs will be allowed to add to their squad for the knockout phase.
It means there is uncertainty over how long Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan will be involved for, if at all.
Both have City contracts that expire on 30 June, although the rules have also been changed to allow short-term extensions.
Guardiola says there has been no developments over De Bruyne's future.
"It's a question for the club and Kevin," he said. "He's a player, so yes (he would like De Bruyne in USA), but I'm just concerned about what happens until the end of the season."
- Latest Manchester City news, analysis and fan views
- Get Manchester City news sent straight to your phone
You must be registered for see images
Continue reading...
