Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has offered high praise for Wydad Athletic Club following his side’s 2-0 victory over the Moroccan champions in their opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The encounter, played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, marked Wydad Casablanca’s debut in this year’s expanded tournament.
Despite the loss, the Moroccan side produced a spirited performance that earned the admiration of one of football’s most respected tacticians.
City took the lead inside two minutes, setting the tone for much of the early exchanges.
But Wydad refused to be overwhelmed, growing into the contest and creating clear chances midway through the first half.
Oussama Zemraoui and Cassius Mailula each squandered golden opportunities to bring the scores level, both chances coming from clever play by South African midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch.
With just a single goal separating the sides at that point, Guardiola’s team looked momentarily unsettled before reasserting control in the second half to seal the victory.
However, the Manchester City boss was quick to acknowledge the challenge Wydad posed.
“When we let them play, they showed quality,” Guardiola said in his post-match press conference. “They have five defenders, a compact block. We didn’t expect that—I thought they were going to play with four.”
Guardiola also singled out Wydad goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid for special praise, particularly highlighting his composure and ability with the ball at his feet.
“Their goalkeeper has a very good clearance,” he added. “They had one or two chances, and overall, it was a difficult game for everyone with the heat. I give a lot of credit to both teams.”
💬 Pep Guardiola: «le Wydad a affiché un jeu de qualité» pic.twitter.com/MyjPt2b8Ur
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While the result leaves Wydad with no points from their opening match, the performance offered signs of promise as they prepare for their next challenge.
The Casablanca outfit now turns its attention to a high-stakes clash against Italian giants Juventus on Sunday.
Anything less than a win could see them eliminated from the group stage.
For now, Wydad can take some encouragement from having tested the reigning European champions and earned the respect of one of modern football’s master tacticians.
