Pep Guardiola lauds 'incredible player' after Manchester City win over Al Ain secures FIFA Club World Cup knockouts spot, gives Rodri update

Pep Guardiola was impressed with Claudio Echeverri's full debut for Manchester City, who ran out comfortable 6-0 winners over Al Ain in the FIFA Club World Cup.

The 2023 UEFA Champions League winners secured their safe passage to the knockout stages of the competition on Sunday, but will face off against Juventus to decide whether they go through as group winners.

Guardiola handed maiden City starts to 19-year-old Echeverri and summer signing Rayan Ait-Nouri, the former having spent a year on loan at River Plate after his transfer in January 2024.

And while the Argentinian forward has only made two substitute appearances for City since his arrival at the start of this year, Guardiola revealed his first-half free-kick was the product of hard work on the training ground.

"Since he's arrived the previous season, three or four months with us at the end of the training sessions, he'd practise the free-kicks with the keeper and the wall alone. The others didn't," Guardiola revealed post-match.

"He practised and practised, and the work paid off. He had the courage and quality. When you practise, it's like golf or basketball, the more you practise, the more chances you have. It was a fantastic goal and he's an incredible player in the small spaces.

"Unfortunately, he couldn't continue after half-time because of a problem with the ankle, but it was really good that [in] his first minutes in this competition, he made a fantastic goal. The free-kick was really, really good."

Despite the unfortunate news that Echeverri's match was cut short due to a twisted ankle, Guardiola had a positive update on the fitness of Rodri, who entered the fray in the 61st minute with his side already 4-0 up.

The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner put in a "much better" display than in his 30-minute cameo in City's 2-0 win over Wydad, according to his manager.

"Step-by-step," said Pep Guardiola on Rodri's return. "He cannot play more than 30 minutes. He still struggles a bit in the duels, still needs to be a little bit stronger, but it's normal.

"It's important he played much, much better than the previous game. We miss him a lot. Any team would miss the best player in the world."

Despite the comfortable win - in which Ilkay Gundogan netted a brace with Erling Haaland, Oscar Bobb and Rayan Cherki also on the scoresheet - City still sit second in their group.

One more goal would have seen them head into their final Group G match against Juventus in top spot, with the Serie A side level on goal difference, but having scored nine to City's eight.

"We pushed and pushed to score another goal to try to finish first, but we missed by one goal. But we know what we need to do against the Italian team to finish as number one," said Guardiola.

"Now we have to see whether we'll be first or second in the group.

"We played a little bit better than the first game [against Wydad AC], especially in the second half."

Should City fail to win against Juventus on Thursday, June 26, they will face the winners of Group H - a quartet that includes Real Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg and Al Hilal - in the last 16.