FIFA have launched a 32-club new format of the tournament and Manchester City – alongside Chelsea – will be representing the Premier League in the United States as Pep Guardiola and co begin their preparations for the 2025-26 campaign earlier than they would have usually expected.

Several Manchester City first-team stars are away on international duty – after a long-drawn and disappointing season – and there is little time to rest as the Blues are set to kick off their Club World Cup campaign on June 14.

Embroiled in title races and competing on all fronts since Guardiola took charge in 2016, Manchester City first-team stars have had to get accustomed to a demanding schedule but there have been outcries from some of the most influential footballers in the world – such as Rodri and Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min – for the game’s governing bodies to look after players.

As Manchester City players who are set to be named in the travelling squad for the competition prepare to return to training next week, Manuel Akanji has given his honest verdict on what he needs to be an unnecessary tournament that comes with a high risk of injury for competing players.

“I have been a strong critic of this competition (FIFA Club World Cup) for some time now. We players would love to have some holidays, and some time for our bodies to rest,” the Switzerland international said, as quoted by Mirror Sport.

“My (Manchester) City teammates are not exactly overjoyed about the tournament (FIFA Club World Cup) either. But it’s now right in our faces, and there is nothing we can do about it.

“If we take part, then of course we want to win it. But if we reach the final, then the time period for us to recover ahead of the new season will become even shorter.”

On the contrary, the Club World Cup does give Guardiola and his squad a platform to get a head start for next season and gain some confidence after their evident struggles over the course of the 2024-25 season.

“Set against the expectations we have, this hasn’t been a good season. We finished third in the Premier League, three points behind Arsenal, and qualified for the Champions League,” the 29-year-old added. 

“But it is still our worst campaign for some time. However, Pep Guardiola still said he was proud of us for never giving up. The season could have finished far worse than it did.”

Manchester City will have fresh blood within their ranks for the Club World Cup after incoming left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri completed a medical in Manchester on Saturday – with AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders set to follow suit on Sunday – as the club remain in talks with Lyon to sign France international Rayan Cherki.