"He Played Good"—Pep Guardiola Sends Warning to Man City Stars After Claudio Echeverri’s Impressive Debut
Claudio Echeverri impressed on his Manchester City debut, and Pep Guardiola used the moment to remind his senior stars not to take their place at the club for granted.
Pep Guardiola saw a fearless debut from teenager Claudio Echeverri during Manchester City’s FA Cup final defeat — and it has given the boss something to think about as the club faces a season-defining week.
The 18-year-old Argentine was brought into the match as City chased an equaliser against Crystal Palace at Wembley on Saturday. And while the Blues ultimately lost in a 1-0 defeat, Guardiola was full of praise for Echeverri’s first appearance in a City shirt.
“Look at Claudio Echeverri. He played good, no?” Guardiola said when asked about the youngster’s performance. “He had two or three chances and every time he arrived in the box it was a dangerous situation.”
The City boss spoke about Echeverri’s freshness and lack of fear, pointing out how the player’s lack of baggage made him stand out. “He has no past, his mind is clean,” said Guardiola. “He is not trying to defend everything. Maybe in two or three years it will be different, but when everyone arrives they are clean and then they demand more status for what they have done.”
City’s defeat to Palace not only ended their FA Cup hopes but confirmed the club will go trophyless for the first time since Guardiola’s debut season in 2016/17. That defeat has increased the pressure on their remaining two Premier League games, with the Blues needing at least four points from matches against Bournemouth and Fulham to seal a top-five finish — and more importantly, Champions League qualification.
The pressure is now firmly on, especially with Saturday’s loss capping off a disappointing campaign by City’s high standards. But Guardiola remains confident in his trusted core of players — the same group he relied on through a tough season plagued by injuries and inconsistency. Even after four January signings arrived, the manager stuck with his experienced stars to guide them through the difficult period.
That’s why the starting XI against Bournemouth is likely to feature many familiar names. However, Echeverri’s fearless cameo might have planted a seed in Guardiola’s mind. The boss wouldn’t confirm future plans, but said City will support the youngster in his journey.
“He played positive because for him it is a gift to be here and he tries to improve and play in the Premier League,” he added. “Will he be able to? I don’t know. Will we be here to help him? Yes, we will try.”
As the Etihad prepares to say farewell to Kevin De Bruyne in what could be his final home game, Guardiola is balancing sentiment with urgency. A win is non-negotiable if City want to avoid the embarrassment of missing out on Champions League football.
