Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has hailed teenage midfielder Claudio Echeverri’s dedication on the training ground after the youngster scored a superb free kick during Sunday’s 6-0 thrashing of Al Ain at the Club World Cup.
The 19-year-old Argentine marked his first start for City by curling home the team’s second goal, whipping the ball over the wall and into the top corner from the edge of the area.
The emphatic victory in Atlanta secured City’s place in the last 16 of FIFA’s expanded tournament.
Speaking after the match, Guardiola revealed Echeverri’s hard work on the training pitch had paid off spectacularly.
“Since he arrived in January, for the last three or four months, he’s stayed behind after training, practising free kicks alone with the goalkeeper and the wall,” Guardiola told reporters. “The others didn’t practise—he did. And work pays off.”
Guardiola compared Echeverri’s persistence to that of top athletes in other sports. “It’s like golf or basketball—the more you practise your shots, the better you get. When the moment comes, you have the courage and the quality to take it.”
Echeverri, nicknamed ‘Little Devil,’ joined City from River Plate earlier this year and made his debut in the FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace in May. His goal on Sunday was his first for the club, but his night was cut short as he was substituted at half-time for Phil Foden after picking up a minor knock.
“It was a fantastic goal,” added Guardiola. “He’s incredible in tight spaces. Unfortunately, he couldn’t continue after halftime because of a problem with his ankle, but in those first minutes, he was good.”
City added two more late goals through Oscar Bobb and Rayan Cherki, nearly overtaking Juventus at the top of Group G.
Both sides sit on six points, but Juve hold the advantage on goals scored. City will now face Juventus in Orlando on Thursday, needing a win to finish top of the group and possibly avoid Real Madrid in the last 16.
“With one more goal, we would have had two options—now we have just one. Maybe it’s better that way,” said Guardiola. “The important thing is we are through to the next phase. Sooner or later, we’ll face top teams—Brazilian sides, European giants—it’s no big concern.”
