Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has lauded young attacking midfielder Claudio Echeverri for his exceptional commitment during training, following a stunning free-kick goal in the Club World Cup victory over Al Ain on Sunday.
The 19-year-old claimed his first goal for City as part of a 6-0 thrashing of the UAE outfit in Atlanta, a result that propels the Premier League side into the last 16 of FIFA’s enlarged tournament.
In his first starting appearance for the club, Echeverri showcased his skills by taking a direct free-kick from the edge of the box, expertly curling his shot around the wall and into the top corner.
“I want to share something with you; since he joined us in January, for the last three or four months, at the end of training sessions, he has been practising free-kicks solo with the goalkeeper and the wall,” Guardiola told reporters.
“While others were winding down, he continued to practise relentlessly, and it’s great to see that hard work pays off.”
“He had the confidence and quality to take it. Practicing is key; it’s like golf or basketball — the more you practice your free shots, the better your chances of succeeding.”
Echeverri, affectionately known as the ‘Little Devil’, joined City from Argentine heavyweights River Plate and made his debut in May during the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, where he was substituted at half-time due to a minor injury.
“That was a fantastic goal; he’s remarkable in tight spaces,” Guardiola added.
“Sadly, he couldn’t continue past half-time because of an issue with his ankle, but he truly impressed in those early minutes and scored a superb free-kick that was quite exceptional.”
Late goals from Oscar Bobb and Rayan Cherki brought City closer to topping Group G, as they now sit level on points with Juventus but trail on goal difference. To secure the top position and potentially avoid a clash with Real Madrid in the next round, City must defeat Juventus in Orlando on Thursday.
“If we had scored one more goal, we’d have had two options, but now we only have one — maybe that’s for the best,” Guardiola remarked.
“What matters is that we’ve qualified for the next stage… We will face top teams sooner or later, so that doesn’t concern us too much.”
“We’ll eventually come up against Brazilian sides and top European teams, so it’s not a significant worry.”
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Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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