Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola praised Claudio Echeverri’s performance after he netted a sublime free-kick in the 6-0 win over Al Ain in the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday, Afrosport reports.
The 19-year-old Argentine was making his first start for the club and scored the second goal against Al Ain in Atlanta by whipping in a free kick into the top corner of the net.
Echeverri joined City from River Plate in January and made his City debut off the bench in the FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace in May. He was however taken off at half-time against Al Ain with Guardiola explaining he suffered a small knock
“I want to tell you something, so since he arrived [in January], the [last] three or four months with the lads, at the end of the training session, he was practising the free-kicks alone, with the ‘keeper, with the wall,” the Spaniard said
“The others, they didn’t practice, he was practising and practising, and work pays off.
“So, at the end, he had the courage, the quality. When you practice, you know, it’s like golf or like basketball, as much you practice free shots, the more chances you have.
“It was a fantastic goal, he’s an incredible player in the small spaces.
“Unfortunately, he could not continue to half-time (because of) a problem with the ankle, but yeah, he was truly good in the first minutes, and… he made a fantastic goal, the free kick was really, really, really good.”
Claudio Echeverri. 👏#FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/oxt32SdWJy
— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 23, 2025
City’s victory over Al Ain pulled them through to the round of 16 along with Italian giants Juventus. The two sides will face off in Orlando on Thursday to determine who finishes top of Group G.
