Manchester City kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Wydad in Philadelphia on June 18.
Victory at the Lincoln Financial Field kickstarts Pep Guardiola's team in Group G via first-half goals from Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku.
Foden's standout performance is a major boost for Guardiola, with the England international struggling for form in the back end of the Premier League campaign, but the 25-year-old is confident the Club World Cup can be a turning point.
Guardiola is aiming to utilise the tournament to formulate his plans for 2025/26 with several new signings in action as part of his squad revamp.
Summer arrivals Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki both started in midfield with Vitor Reis - who joined in January from Palmeiras - in defence.
Dutch star Reijnders was entrusted with the midfield holding role, behind Foden and Cherki, as part of the overall strategy to ease Rodri back into action.
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Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is still working his way back to full fitness following an ACL tear in September 2024.
Where does Reijnders fit at Man City?
Former City star Shaun Wright-Phillips offered his view on how the new faces settled in and the 43-year-old was impressed with what Reijnders can offer in the post-Kevin De Bruyne era at the club.
"I don't think you can replace Kevin. What he brought to the team was astonishing. Not just on the ball, but his work rate off it as well. He pressed defenders as the trigger point for a lot of City's goals," he told Prime Casino.
"But I think the new signings bring something different to the team. For Tijjani, he'll help alongside Rodri, so there’s some extra stability, but he’ll also get forward and contribute with goals and assists. He’s more of a No.8.
"Cherki can play in the hole, and work on the left and right too, but I think with City next season, there’s going to be lots of rotations in positions and players. There’s an attacking threat through the middle in the side now."
Up next for Man City is a clash with Al Ain on June 23 in Atlanta before a showdown against Juventus on June 26 in Orlando.
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