Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about the freedom of Claudio Echeverri ahead of a week of pressure for the Blues
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Claudio Echeverri of Manchester City has a shot saved by Dean Henderson of Crystal Palace during the FA Cup Final
Claudio Echeverri is denied by Dean Henderson during the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Crystal Palace
Pep Guardiola saw a fearless performance from debutant Claudio Echeverri as he ponders how Manchester City get through a critical week at the club. The Blues need four points from fixtures with Bournemouth and Fulham if they want to confirm a top-five finish in the Premier League that will allow them to play in the Champions League next season.
That is the bare minimum requirement at the club after a fall from standards that will see them trophyless for the first time since Guardiola's first year in the club back in 2017. And defeat to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday has made for an uncertain build-up on a night when the Blues are also looking to send Kevin De Bruyne off in style on his final appearance at the Etihad.
Guardiola prefers to lean on his experienced players for the big games, and stuck with them this season when the team was struggling through an injury crisis where they were regularly being overrun in midfield. Even after the club signed four new players in the January window, the City manager has found a working solution to the team's problems using the same faces that have been with him for many years.
It will likely be an XI stuffed with familiar faces against Bournemouth then, although Guardiola countered that thought by speaking about how well Echeverri had played on his debut. The manager brought him on for his first City appearance as they chased an equaliser in the FA Cup Final, and was impressed with the performance.
"Look at Claudio Echverri. He played good, no?" he said.
"He had two or three chances and every time he arrived in the box it was a dangerous situation. He has no past, his mind is clean.
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"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.
"He played positive because for him it is a gift to be here and he tries to improve and play in the Premier League. Will be able to? I don't know.
"Will we be here to help him? Yes, we will try."
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