Ilkay Gundogan's brace sparks Man City's Al Ain rout in Club World Cup

Ilkay Gundogan, who netted twice, expressed frustration at the Citizens' sluggish second-half start, which he believed cost them a more comfortable path to topping Group G.

The Citizens unleashed a clinical performance, with Gundogan opening the scoring in the eighth minute via a delicate chip that looped over Al Ain's goalkeeper Khalid Eisa.

Claudio Echeverri marked his first goal for City with a curling free-kick, while Erling Haaland converted a penalty after a VAR review penalised Ramy Rabia's foul on Manuel Akanji.

Second-half strikes from Gundogan, Oscar Bobb, and Rayan Cherki, who also celebrated his debut City goal, sealed the rout.

Despite the scoreline, Gundogan lamented missed opportunities. "We targeted a seventh goal at half-time, but we started the second half too slowly," he said. "It cost us in the end."

The German midfielder, whose first goal earned him man-of-the-match honours, stressed the need for sharper focus. "We had moments, especially in the first half, where our passing lacked precision for too long, five or 10 minutes by our standards," he added. "At this level, we can't afford that."

City's failure to reach seven goals means they must defeat Juventus in Orlando on Thursday to secure top spot in Group G.

A point would have sufficed with a 7-0 win, but Gundogan remained pragmatic. "A seventh would've helped, but we need a strong performance against Juve anyway," he said.

Al Ain, who conceded 11 goals across two matches, exit the tournament. Their brief resistance came via Nassim Chadli's effort, which Stefan Ortega tipped wide, but City's dominance was relentless.

Manager Pep Guardiola praised his side's intent, though he echoed Gundogan's call for consistency. "We created chances, but we need to be more precise," Guardiola said post-match.

Gundogan, 34, also addressed speculation about his future amid interest from Galatasaray. "I'm happy here with one year left on my contract," he said. "I'm fit, available, and believe I can play at the highest level for years."

His performance underscored his value, blending experience with moments of brilliance.

As City prepare for a pivotal showdown with Juventus, both sides boast perfect records, promising a thrilling battle for group supremacy. Meanwhile, Al Ain face a consolation match against Wydad, their Club World Cup journey over.