Soccer
Former Manchester City hero thinks club's 'frightening' squad is good enough to win FIFA Club World Cup
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Manchester City take the next step in their bid for FIFA Club World Cup glory when they face Al-Hilal in their last-16 clash.
Pep Guardiola's side have been the form team of the tournament so far, winning three games out of three and thrashing Juventus 5-2 in their last outing in the States.
It's those kind of displays that has former City striker Paul Dickov convinced that the club can go on and win the competition, making up for the disappointing trophyless season.
Speaking exclusively to DAZN News, thanks to Kasinoseta.com, Dickov believes City's unbelievable strength in depth should see them triumph at the Club World Cup.
"Look, PSG, Real Madrid, and all the big ones, like Bayern Munich, also look impressive. All the big boys are going to be there." he said.
"But City, for me, looking at the squad, they look as if they've got a spring back in their step as well. You know, there's a lot more enthusiasm about them going into it as well. And I know from the club's point of view, they're treating it, like they could be there for four weeks.
"For the new signings to be there 24-7, bedding in, you know, sometimes it takes players, it can take them a couple of months. And they're using this period to really get the squad together and what's going to be a really tough Premier League campaign. There's a real excitement around the club about the signings that have come in.
"Players coming back, too, in John Stones and Rodri, who are absolutely huge to them as well. And Kuznetsov and the ones that, Marmouche, we're really seeing a lot of him in the Club World Cup already. And he's been quality.
"You've got Doku, you've got Foden. Then you add Cherki into that, Haaland, you know, Oscar Bobb coming back as well. So the quality, of course, is frightening.
"So when you've got squads of players, and I'm probably missing about four or five players out there, which is ridiculous.
"But when you've got a squad full of that quality, of course, they can go and win it."
Part of that squad has seen City parade four new signings, who were recruited in time to play at the Club World Cup, and so far Dickov likes what he sees.
However, the Scotsman is particularly excited about City's new attacking threat in Rayan Cherki.
Adding, "Reijnders for me, looks like a quality signing. You know, he's got a bit of everything. He's a number eight, can't play as a six, can create things and score goals. And he's been outstanding for AC Milan.
"But Cherki is the one that looks as if he's got a little bit of gold dust about him, you know? And when City have maybe struggled over previous seasons, when teams are playing a low block, when teams are really defending for their lives, maybe playing 5-4-1 and making it difficult to play between the lines.
"You need somebody that's got that little bit of magic about them.
"We've been so fortunate enough to have players like Kevin De Bruyne over the years that's done that for us. But Cherki looks, the talent he's got is so natural. You know, he plays off the cuff sometimes."
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