Pep Guardiola hopes Manchester City can triumph in a potentially ‘once in a lifetime’ clash against Fluminense in the Club World Cup final on Friday evening.
Manchester City booked their place in the inter-continental decider after a comfortable win over Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds. The Citizens were dominant throughout against the J-League outfit, and opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time through Marius Hoibraten’s own goal.
Mateo Kovacic doubled the lead early in the second period after racing on to Kyle Walker’s through ball, before Bernardo Silva’s strike sealed a 3-0 win for Guardiola’s side.
The Spaniard urged his team to make the most of their opportunity ahead of facing Fluminense in Friday’s final.
“The plan is to sleep, sleep and sleep! This is our plan,” Guardiola said, via the club’s official website.
“Now we have to rest. They had one more day. We will have a day off, have dinner together and create an environment that the players know how important it is for the Club.
“To be in this final you have to do incredible things like win the Champions League.
“This may be the only time we play this in our lifetime. We are there. Tomorrow we start to watch Fluminense and see them and try to do a good performance.”
Guardiola warned his team that their objective was far from done, as the European champions take on the Copa Libertadores winners in the decider.
“We didn’t win it [the FIFA Club World Cup],” he said after the semi-final win.
“It’s the first time Manchester City are here. I represent this incredible organisation and Club and now we play the final against Fluminense.
“This is the last step – a title the Club doesn’t have. So we’ll go for it.”
