Elliot Anderson has admitted that England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina still pains him, but he's hoping to use the confidence from his performances at the tournament to inspire the start of his Manchester City career.

What happened?

Anderson will probably make his debut when City play the Premier League winners, Arsenal, on Sunday at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff for the Community Shield. He's been reflecting on England's loss for three weeks, but now is a new season, and he has to move forward.

Why it matters for England

Anderson's performances at the World Cup have given him huge confidence, knowing he can perform on a big stage. He hadn't played in anything as big as that yet, and that was a really good test for him.

What comes next?

The 23-year-old is likely to become a significant figure in City midfield because of Barcelona's interest in signing Rodri. A new £51m bid was made by the La Liga side on Wednesday, as they try to seal a deal for the 30-year-old. If the Ballon d'Or winner does depart, City's new No 5 will be expected to be part of the plan to replace him in the middle of the park.

Anderson joined from Nottingham Forest for what was briefly a record £116m fee for a British player – City had a longstanding interest in him while Pep Guardiola was in charge. Due to his extended World Cup exertions with England, the former Newcastle midfielder is yet to feature for City under their new head coach, Enzo Maresca.

Guardiola's departure, though, did not make him debate his decision. 'It's such a huge club and the players they have are the best. I want to be surrounded by these sorts of players, proving myself on a daily basis,' Anderson said.

'[Kevin] De Bruyne was always the player I looked up to over the last 10 years. I loved watching him. To be here at the same club and playing where he played is special.'

League standing: 1st in World Cup, 7 pts, 2W-1D-0L from 3 games, recent form WLWWW.

Goals this season: 6 scored, 2 conceded (+4 goal difference).

Lead at the top: 1 point clear of Croatia.

Last result: France 4-6 England (2026-07-18).

Recent form (last 5): 4W-0D-1L (WWLWW, most recent first); on a 2-game winning run.

Next fixture: vs Spain (at home, 2026-09-26).

Anderson is likely to be part of the plan to replace Rodri in the middle of the park, and he's hoping to use his World Cup experience to drive his performances for City. He's been reflecting on England's loss for three weeks, but now is a new season, and he has to move forward.

What's next for City?

City's new No 5 will be expected to be part of the plan to replace Rodri in the middle of the park. Anderson is likely to be part of that plan, and he's hoping to use his World Cup experience to drive his performances for City.

Conclusion

Anderson's performances at the World Cup have given him huge confidence, knowing he can perform on a big stage. He hadn't played in anything as big as that yet, and that was a really good test for him. He's hoping to use that experience to drive his performances for City, and he's excited to be part of the team's plans to replace Rodri in the middle of the park.