GOAL US looks at which side is under the most pressure heading into the CWC, with a number of clubs looking to make noise
Javier Mascherano has repeatedly told the media that he wants Inter Miami to put in a proper performance at the Club World Cup. This thing is important, he has declared, for both brand and pride. The tournament is legit, and Lionel Messi and Miami are here to win.
His sentiment has been echoed elsewhere, too. Pep Guardiola, Vincent Kompany and Xabi Alonso have all insisted that they intend to put on a show in the U.S. this summer. Of course, that quartet all have different expectations as to what defines Club World Cup success (other than a handsome pay day).
Still, with assertions comes expectations. And with that comes pressure. This was never going to be a summer kickabout. But there are levels here.
Some clubs, such as Atletico Madrid and Chelsea, can sort of show up, put in a good performance, and be done with it. But for others – Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter Miami – it isn't so simple. Achieving relative success feels vital. Perception is ruthless, and it can shift swiftly.
GOAL US looks at who is most under pressure heading into the CWC, with many big names admitting that they intend to make a splash in this summer's expanded 32-team tournament.
AFPInter Miami
Inter Miami has more to lose than any team not named Real Madrid. It's a simple equation, really. Miami are representing MLS – along with LAFC and Seattle Sounders – on "home" soil, and are supposed to show up for the league. If they win, and Messi shows that he can still do it, then MLS is legit. If they drop a couple of group stage games and crash out in dramatic fashion, then the league is nowhere.
Or at least that's the perception.
That's not a particularly fair state of affairs, all said. Miami are a good MLS side – comfortably the best of the three in the tournament. But they lack the overall quality to win a championship. In this case, the Messi addition is as much a blessing as it is a curse.
They haven't helped themselves much, either, making a real show of just how important this competition is to them. It's big talk, and needs to be backed up by a proper performance. There's risk to that potential reward.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesReal Madrid
Right lads, time to show you're back, eh? It was a poor season in Madrid. Their struggles are made most obvious by the fact that they failed to win a trophy. But their struggles ran far deeper than that. This was a team deeply flawed, struggling to fight on all fronts, and badly in need of a rebuild.
Well, the reinforcements have come. It starts with the manager, with Xabi Alonso stolen from Bayer Leverkusen. And then there's the defense, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen brought in to add a mixture of solidity and quality at the back.
More broadly, though, this is a side that needs new tactical ideas and a real refresh. Good thing, then, that they will have had less than a week with their new manager before the tournament kicks off. Zoom out, and that's either a recipe for disaster, or platform for the Madrid voodoo to take over. They could vibe their way to a title or crash out in embarrassing fashion. Either way, it will be fascinating viewing.
AFPBayern Munich
The Bavarians are back! After finally ceding the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen in 2024, they returned to the summit of the division that is perennially theirs this campaign. That felt like a bare minimum for a team that boasts Harry Kane, brought in a new manager and a fair few new faces.
In the stuff that mattered, though, they faltered. Their Champions League campaign ended earlier than it should have, while an injury to Alphonso Davies dominated the headlines.
Chances are they will make it out of their group and win a knockout game. But Bayern often pitch themselves as a consistent European contender without living up to that label in full. Time to prove it.
GettyManchester City
What do you do when you lose your best player to a season-ending ACL tear in August, undergo your worst streak in nearly 10 years, and sneak into the top four far later than you should have? Spend lots, apparently. City have responded to their struggles by shelling out more than $200m in January.
In fairness, this has needed to happen for a while. City are old.
But they took some chances here. Getting rid of Kevin De Bruyne is a risky move – even if his hamstrings don't work anymore. Holding onto Bernardo Silva might be even riskier. Throwing Rodri back into the fire could prove to be the worst decision of the three.
Either way, City are at a bit of a crossroads. There remain questions about the 115 charges they face for various financial irregularities – the verdict of which is expected to be revealed at some point in the near future.
Pep Guardiola has signed a new deal, and rebuilt his backroom staff. The squad is younger. Odds are, there will be some new tactical ideas at play. What that means for the CWC remains to be seen. City are a good football team with the world's best manager at the helm. Wins are expected. But they haven't been this poor in a while, and the fans know it.
