Manchester City’s coach expressed extreme joy with their ‘great triumph and achieving their first international title from Saudi Arabia’ Phil Foden told SPA: ‘Playing the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time and winning it in Saudi Arabia was a very wonderful experience’ JEDDAH: Manchester City’s head coach Pep Guardiola described the FIFA Club World Cup 2023 hosted by Saudi Arabia as “beautiful and very special,” the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. The English Premier League champions Manchester City defeated Brazil’s Fluminense 4-0 to win the 20th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, which the Kingdom hosted for the first time between Dec. 12 and 22, 2023. Addressing a press conference after his club won their fifth title of 2023, Guardiola expressed extreme joy with their “great triumph and achieving their first international title from Saudi Arabia.” The Spaniard said they were lucky at the beginning of the confrontation with Fluminense, as they tried to possess the game and pass the ball in a distinctive style, as “we did not find each other at the beginning, and they were stronger.” He revealed that he looks forward to making history again in the FIFA Club World Cup competition. Voted as the final match’s best player, City’s Argentinian forward Julian Alvarez said he was very happy with what he has achieved at Manchester City. “I am so delighted for winning the FIFA World Cup for national teams and the FIFA Club World Cup,” said Alvarez, adding that he won the titles at 23 and that he would remain on the pitch to win more titles and championships. Meanwhile, his clubmate English footballer Phil Foden told SPA: “Playing the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time and winning it in Saudi Arabia was a very wonderful experience … Everyone was generous to us and the organization was good. It was a nice experience.” City’s Dutch center-back Nathan Ake said: “The matches were difficult, but the whole experience was wonderful. We were welcomed beautifully, and we were able to win the trophy, so it was a good experience in the Kingdom.” He concluded that winning five titles in 2023 is a “great achievement,” but they have to continue putting in more effort to win the FIFA Club World Cup again.