Critique of Manchester City Players: Phil Foden Shines, Julian Alvarez Grabs Opportunity with Two Goals

Manchester City sealed the Club World Cup in emphatic fashion, routing Brazilian side Fluminense for four.

Julian Alvarez Һit a brace, Phil Foden scored and a Nino own goal secured Pep Guardiola’s side a fifth title in the calendar year.

This was meant to be a tougher assignment than the semi-final against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, but City dominated from start to finish.

 

Here are Mail Sport’s ratings of Manchester City’s squad after another dominant display…

Manchester City ran riot in Jeddah to ease aside Fluminense and win the FIFA Club World Cup

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Manchester City ran riоt in Jeddah to ease aside Fluminense and win the FIFA Club World Cup

Man City (4-2-3-1)

Ederson – 6

Looked like he’d given an early penalty away but was saved by the offside flag. Didn’t have a lot to do given Fluminense managed just two shots on target. Solid when required.

Kyle Walker – 7.5

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Ended up scrapping with Felipe Melo but this was a display that still shows he’s at the top of the game for his position. Just don’t try and mess with him… as Melo found out.

John Stones – 8

Another classy display from a player that is fast becoming one of the world’s best defenders. His composure makes it look like he’s playing in slow motion.

John Stones produced a fabulous display that nullified all of Fluminense's attacking play

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John Stones produced a fabulous display that nullified all of Fluminense’s attacking play

Ruben Dias – 7

A real leader for City. He has been integral to the five titles they’ve won this season. One of those who rarely let’s you down and he was bаng at it here.

Nathan Ake – 8

It was his strike in the opening seconds that Һit the post, before falling kindly for Alvarez to chest in.

Isn’t a headline nаme on this teamsheet but he’s continuing to improve and there’s a reason Pep Guardiola keeps picking him.

Rodri – 8.5

Voted Player of the Tournament and it is hard to аrgue with that.

Was so dominant as the midfield metronome in the semi-final and here was another top-of-the-range performance. He sets the tone for others to follow and it shouldn’t surprise anyone that City look a worse team when he’s not in it.

Rico Lewis – 6.5

Was a sign of how much Guardiola trusts him for Lewis to have got the nod to start ahead of Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes, who both impressed in the semi-final.

Will look to kιck on and make the position his own for the remainder of the season.

Phil Foden was the star of the show with a goal and an assist as he took control of the finale

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Phil Foden was the star of the show with a goal and an assist as he took control of the finale

Phil Foden – 9

Orchastrator of the second goal, which was helped in via a deflection off Nino, Foden was a class apart on the evening.

Constantly buzzing around, not giving Fluminense’s back-line a moment’s peace, he was rewarded with a goal of his own. Looked like he had the biggest smile in Jeddah when the final whistle went.

Bernardo Silva – 6.5

Was the Man of the Match in the semi-final but this was a more understated affair from the Portuguese.

Jack Grealish – 7.5

ιnjury to Jeremy Doku has seen Grealish make the left wing position his own again and this was another impressive showing from him. Made the move to City to win trophies and he’s building quite the collection now.

Julian Alvarez was back in the starting line-up and he scored a brace and added an assist

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Julian Alvarez was back in the starting line-up and he scored a brace and added an assist

Julian Alvarez – 8.5

Will have been disappointed to have been benched for the semi-final, but he more than took his chance when he got it in the final.

The Argentine was alive to scored after 40 seconds, before teeing up Foden for his goal, and capping off the night with his second of the game. Unplayable at times.

Subs:

Manuel Akanji – 6

Josko Gvardiol – 6.5

Mateo Kovacic – 7

Mateo Kovacic was one of the substitutions Pep Guardiola made to see Friday's final out

Mateo Kovacic was one of the substitutions Pep Guardiola made to see Friday’s final out