Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola has opened up as his side gear up for the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time in their history.
The Premier League champions will face AFC Champions League winners Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-finals of the competition on Tuesday.
“I want the players [to not] be desperate to win it. Just to come to play two games," Guardiola said.
“Win the first one to deserve to play the final and if we don’t win it, we are going to win hopefully the Champions League in the future and will be back.
“It’s just a simple two football games, especially the first one because it allows you to play the final otherwise you play the third-fourth position game and yes, do what you have to do.
“We learned this pattern in the Champions League in the past.
“In life you cannot play ‘oh never again it’s going to happen’, why not? It can happen in the future. Just play the games as best as you can, that’s all.
“But, of course, the motivation or feeling that we never won that, it’s important.
“And always, wins help to win. And a win against Crystal Palace will help us, by far, to approach the game better.”
City qualified for the tournament by virtue of clinching the UEFA Champions League and would face either Fluminense or Al Ahly in the final if they beat the Japanese side.
