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Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola provided full debuts for Rayan Ait-Nouri and Claudio Echeverri during Sunday’s impressive win at the Club World Cup, and both players made a notable impact.
The team achieved a commanding 6-0 victory over the UAE's Al-Ain, propelling City into the last 16 with a match remaining, marking their second consecutive clean sheet and a total of eight goals scored.
Last season, City faced challenges partly due to a long list of injuries, which forced them to place players in positions they weren't familiar with, such as Nico O'Reilly at left-back, although he usually plays in midfield.
However, the addition of the talented Algerian Ait-Nouri will bring additional balance to the left side, and goalscorer Echeverri demonstrated why he could be a valuable option in the squad this season.
Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega remarked about Echeverri: "He somewhat resembles Julian Alvarez. They share a similar style of play, and his finishing ability is remarkable. He is a genuinely nice person, a bit shy initially, but I believe he can assist us greatly."
Could Echeverri, the hardworking talent, be City’s latest Argentine star?
City has a history of recruiting attacking players from Argentina, with several having etched their names in the club's annals.
Sergio Aguero was responsible for one of the most unforgettable moments during their first Premier League title win, while Carlos Tevez made a notable move to the club from Manchester United, despite their rivalry. Furthermore, Julian Alvarez’s £81 million transfer to Atletico Madrid remains the highest fee City has ever received.
Guardiola might have discovered a future star in the young Echeverri, who comes from the same South American nation that has produced legends like Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.
Echeverri joined City in January 2024 but was loaned back to River Plate for an additional year, and he unexpectedly made his debut as a substitute in the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace in May.
Although the 19-year-old played just 45 minutes during City’s victory on Sunday, he stood out with a brilliant free-kick in his first official start for the team.
Guardiola commented: "Since his arrival and during the three to four months he has been with us, he practiced free-kicks after training with the goalkeeper, the wall, and by himself. Others didn’t do this; he kept practicing, and the effort paid off. What a fantastic goal and an incredible player. Unfortunately, he couldn't continue after half-time due to an ankle issue, but that free-kick was exceptional."
Guardiola has expressed his desire to maintain a smaller squad. The trio of Grealish, Kyle Walker, and Kalvin Phillips seem to be out of favor and unlikely to have roles at the club moving forward, while James McAtee was not picked for the trip.
The Spanish coach needs to further reduce his squad, currently comprising 27 members in the United States. However, Echeverri's performance may complicate the decision for his manager regarding whether to retain him in the squad this season or allow a loan move.
Intelligen Ait-Nouri exhibits an attacking mindset
City has been lacking a recognized left-back since Benjamin Mendy's exit, but Guardiola appears to have discovered the ideal answer.
"Wow," Guardiola remarked about Ait-Nouri's performance. "He had to cover as part of a back four, then transition to a back five. He played exceptionally well, and this isn't his first time doing so.
"It was his debut match, but he has experience in the Premier League spanning several years."
While competing at the magnificent Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ait-Nouri displayed his talents with assertive runs along the left side of the field.
He completed the entire match and demonstrated his value with 92 touches, including seven inside the opponent's penalty area, ranking just behind Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian striker, who converted a penalty kick and squandered several other opportunities, will be eager to capitalize on some of Ait-Nouri's precise crosses.
The 24-year-old had a chance to score in the first half when he maneuvered inside and overcame a couple of defenders, but he stumbled at a crucial moment.
Guardiola commented, "He can support us in that role on the outside but also had to step in as a holding midfielder and navigate the spaces. He has a good movement into open areas.
"He is smart and effective in defense and when regaining the ball. He is very astute in the attacking third, making the right choices to generate more space. I'm really pleased with the match he played."
His statistics from his time at Wolves illustrate what he can contribute to this City team and why the £31m fee might prove to be a wise investment.
Last season, Ait-Nouri was the leading defender in the Premier League for goal contributions, totaling 11—nine goals and 19 assists over five seasons at Molineux.
His offensive talents are further amplified by the fact that only three other full-backs created a greater number of chances last season, and only West Ham's Aaron Wan-Bissaka had more completed dribbles than Ait-Nouri's 63.
Ait-Nouri played a crucial role in securing City's advancement to the knockout rounds, and they will aim to clinch the top position in their last group match against Juventus on Thursday.
The team achieved a commanding 6-0 victory over the UAE's Al-Ain, propelling City into the last 16 with a match remaining, marking their second consecutive clean sheet and a total of eight goals scored.
Last season, City faced challenges partly due to a long list of injuries, which forced them to place players in positions they weren't familiar with, such as Nico O'Reilly at left-back, although he usually plays in midfield.
However, the addition of the talented Algerian Ait-Nouri will bring additional balance to the left side, and goalscorer Echeverri demonstrated why he could be a valuable option in the squad this season.
Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega remarked about Echeverri: "He somewhat resembles Julian Alvarez. They share a similar style of play, and his finishing ability is remarkable. He is a genuinely nice person, a bit shy initially, but I believe he can assist us greatly."
Could Echeverri, the hardworking talent, be City’s latest Argentine star?
City has a history of recruiting attacking players from Argentina, with several having etched their names in the club's annals.
Sergio Aguero was responsible for one of the most unforgettable moments during their first Premier League title win, while Carlos Tevez made a notable move to the club from Manchester United, despite their rivalry. Furthermore, Julian Alvarez’s £81 million transfer to Atletico Madrid remains the highest fee City has ever received.
Guardiola might have discovered a future star in the young Echeverri, who comes from the same South American nation that has produced legends like Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.
Echeverri joined City in January 2024 but was loaned back to River Plate for an additional year, and he unexpectedly made his debut as a substitute in the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace in May.
Although the 19-year-old played just 45 minutes during City’s victory on Sunday, he stood out with a brilliant free-kick in his first official start for the team.
Guardiola commented: "Since his arrival and during the three to four months he has been with us, he practiced free-kicks after training with the goalkeeper, the wall, and by himself. Others didn’t do this; he kept practicing, and the effort paid off. What a fantastic goal and an incredible player. Unfortunately, he couldn't continue after half-time due to an ankle issue, but that free-kick was exceptional."
Guardiola has expressed his desire to maintain a smaller squad. The trio of Grealish, Kyle Walker, and Kalvin Phillips seem to be out of favor and unlikely to have roles at the club moving forward, while James McAtee was not picked for the trip.
The Spanish coach needs to further reduce his squad, currently comprising 27 members in the United States. However, Echeverri's performance may complicate the decision for his manager regarding whether to retain him in the squad this season or allow a loan move.
Intelligen Ait-Nouri exhibits an attacking mindset
City has been lacking a recognized left-back since Benjamin Mendy's exit, but Guardiola appears to have discovered the ideal answer.
"Wow," Guardiola remarked about Ait-Nouri's performance. "He had to cover as part of a back four, then transition to a back five. He played exceptionally well, and this isn't his first time doing so.
"It was his debut match, but he has experience in the Premier League spanning several years."
While competing at the magnificent Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ait-Nouri displayed his talents with assertive runs along the left side of the field.
He completed the entire match and demonstrated his value with 92 touches, including seven inside the opponent's penalty area, ranking just behind Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian striker, who converted a penalty kick and squandered several other opportunities, will be eager to capitalize on some of Ait-Nouri's precise crosses.
The 24-year-old had a chance to score in the first half when he maneuvered inside and overcame a couple of defenders, but he stumbled at a crucial moment.
Guardiola commented, "He can support us in that role on the outside but also had to step in as a holding midfielder and navigate the spaces. He has a good movement into open areas.
"He is smart and effective in defense and when regaining the ball. He is very astute in the attacking third, making the right choices to generate more space. I'm really pleased with the match he played."
His statistics from his time at Wolves illustrate what he can contribute to this City team and why the £31m fee might prove to be a wise investment.
Last season, Ait-Nouri was the leading defender in the Premier League for goal contributions, totaling 11—nine goals and 19 assists over five seasons at Molineux.
His offensive talents are further amplified by the fact that only three other full-backs created a greater number of chances last season, and only West Ham's Aaron Wan-Bissaka had more completed dribbles than Ait-Nouri's 63.
Ait-Nouri played a crucial role in securing City's advancement to the knockout rounds, and they will aim to clinch the top position in their last group match against Juventus on Thursday.
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