Manchester City’s head coach, Pep Guardiola, has showered praise on the emerging talent, Rico Lewis. The 18-year-old defender, who has been making waves at the club, received accolades from Guardiola, who has mentored renowned players like Jordi Alba, Dani Alves, and Kyle Walker.
Guardiola remarked, ‘Very good huh? What a player – 18 years old. I have been a manager for 14-15 years, training unbelievable players. To find a player like him playing in the pockets, how he has to move in the holding midfield, moving the spaces, he is one of the best I ever trained by far.’
The manager went on to commend Lewis for not only his exceptional skills but also his character. ‘He is a humble guy, doesn’t talk much and he has the appreciation for all his mates. He didn’t play much this season, last season was a key point to understand what we should do. He helped us a lot to understand what we have to do in our build-up and many things. He didn’t play much but he is going to play a lot.’
Guardiola revealed that Lewis’s journey with Manchester City began unexpectedly. ‘I remember one pre-season I did not even consider to bring him [to the squad] and Carlos Vicens told me we can bring Rico because he can play right-back, left-back. I didn’t know him.’
However, Lewis’s talent quickly shone through. ‘He played against Bayern Munich and I remember thinking ‘oh, this guy is good’. Then he started training with us and I thought ‘oh, this guy is good’.’
Guardiola acknowledged the unique challenges faced by players in Lewis’s position, stating, ‘When you play inside, you have counter-attacks from everywhere. It is the most difficult position to play. He is a big talent. To find that is not easy. He comes from the academy, always trains good, he deserves all the compliments and the praise.’
Rico Lewis’s remarkable journey from the academy to earning high praise from a seasoned manager like Guardiola highlights the immense potential that lies within the young footballer. As he continues to grow and develop his skills, fans of Manchester City can look forward to witnessing the rise of this promising talent on the football field.
