Everything that Manchester City wanted to see from a young talent is shining through at Girona | OneFootball

Claudio Echeverri remains a player for whom Manchester City has high hopes. The young playmaker is currently playing through his first full season in Europe. Echeverri endured a tough loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen during the first half of this season. Claudio Echeverri barely played for Leverkusen before he joined Girona for the second half of this season. During his time at Girona, Echeverri has shown flashes of his undoubted talent in La Liga. There is no doubt that Manchester City will be thrilled to see Echeverri making an impact in Spain.

Claudio Echeverri grabbed his first goal and assist for Girona last weekend.

Girona beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 last weekend. Claudio Echeverri came off the bench for the final twenty minutes of Girona’s win. The young playmaker had a profound impact on his team’s win. Echeverri set up Girona’s second goal of the match in the 77th minute. The young, dynamic midfielder was played in behind the Bilbao defense before oncoming Bilbao keeper Unai Simon came out to seemingly stifle Echeverri’s chance. Echeverri attempted a shot which was blocked and the ball ricocheted in the air. Claudio Echeverri produced a spectacular bicycle kick to pick out Azzedine Ounahi for a tap in. It was a stunning piece of play from Echeverri which perfectly encapsulates what makes him such a tantalizing prospect.

Claudio Echeverri would go on to score his first goal for Girona in the 92nd minute of their 3-0 win over Bilbao. Echeverri’s goal looked simple but his movement was superb in the move that created his goal. He also showed his tremendous dribbling ability and produced a shrewd finish to cap off his 20 minute cameo with a goal.

Manchester City will be thrilled with Echeverri’s progress as Girona manager Michel explains what brings out the best in the young playmaker.

Claudio Echeverri has finally made an impression in Europe playing at Girona. While Echeverri has predominantly been a substitute for Girona, he has made a tremendous impact on the pitch when he comes on. Echeverri’s dribbling ability and pace have really caught the eye. He has frightened Girona’s opponents when he has come onto the pitch. Echeverri will need time to grow and mature before he is a consistent player. The glimpses he has shown at Girona have highlighted his potential and provided a glimpse of the damaging player that Echeverri could become. Manchester City will be thrilled to see Echeverri making such a profound impact for Girona.

In quotes relayed by Sport Witness, Girona manager Michel, explained the pressure that Claudio Echeverri is dealing with. Speaking on the pressure Echeverri deals with, Michel said: “If you watch him train, you realise he has raw talent. But he’s a player who comes with a lot of weight on his shoulders – family pressure and professional pressure – and he’s only 20 years old. The goal he scored is the kind of goal a top player scores. But he does that in training many times” 

Speaking on how Michel is getting good performances out of Echeverri, he added: “I told him: I know you have many responsibilities and your head wants to show a version of yourself so that everyone says you’re the player they think you are. But that will happen if you enjoy every play.”

“If you let yourself go and flow, everything comes naturally. He shouldn’t dribble with the need for the dribble to work. He shouldn’t run with the need for that run to win the play, he just needs to run, dribble and shoot while flowing.”

Final thoughts.

Manchester City will be thrilled that Claudio Echeverri is making an impact for Girona. Echeverri’s game seems to be developing under Michel at Girona. Michel’s quotes hint at how to get the best out of Echeverri. Unfortunately, Echeverri wasted the first half of this season by not joining Girona for the entire season. Despite this, Echeverri has overcome the setback he suffered at Bayer Leverkusen, which speaks volumes about his determination and character as a player. Manchester City seemingly have a serious player on their hands in Echeverri, and hopefully, his goal and assist against Bilbao will allow him to kick on for the remainder of this season.