Pep hails Ait-Nouri and Echeverri in wake of six-hit Al Ain triumph | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola praised the impact of new signing Rayan Ait-Nouri and Argentine youngster Claudio Echeverri after City sealed our ticket into the last 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup with a 6-0 win over Al Ain in Atlanta.

Ilkay Gundogan led the way in our second Group G clash with a brace – the first via a sublime chip – with Echeverri then doubling our advantage with a wonderful free-kick on what was the young Argentine’s first start for City.

With Erling Haaland also on target from the penalty spot, and substitutes Rayan Cherki and Oscar Bobb also netting, it made for a fine night’s work.

Summer signing Ait-Nouri caught the eye too with his ramping runs forward from left back, the Algerian providing a tantalising glimpse of what he will bring to the Club.

And as he reflected on a solid night’s work, the City boss was keen to praise Ait-Nouri and Echeverri’s individual contributions to the cause.

On Ait-Nouri in his first outing for City, he said: “Wow, he played very good because we had to defend a back four and then a back five, he had to arrive in the end.

“At the end he played really good. It’s his first game but he’s played in the Premier League for many years.

“He can help us play in that important role, then he went holding midfield in the pockets, he moves really well in small spaces.

“He’s intelligent and clear to defend and take the ball and especially in the final third he’s so clever as well.

“I was really pleased for the game he played.”

The boss was equally pleased with the contribution of Echeverri, the only downside being an ankle knock that forced him off at half-time.

“Since he’s arrived the previous season, three or four months with us at the end of the training session he’d practice the free-kicks with the keeper and the wall alone. The others didn’t,” Pep added.

“He practiced and practiced, and the work paid off, he had the courage and quality. When you practice, it’s like golf or basketball, the more you practice 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 for a problem with the ankle but it was really good that his first minutes in this competition, he made a fantastic goal. The free-kick was really, really good.”

The result means City are just behind Juventus in the table having scored one goal less than the Old Lady with both sides on six points from two games.

The two sides meet in Orlando on Thursday in a clash that will determine who claims top spot.

“What’s important is we’re in the next phase,” Pep added.

“We want to go through and in the end have to face top teams sooner or later, you see Brazilian teams and top-class European team, it’s not a big concern.

“We have four days to play Juventus then after the next opponent. Happy to be one week more here in the United States.”