Manchester City's Rising Star, Rico Lewis, Earns Stunning Praise from Pep Guardiola - Unveiling the Future Gem

Rico Lewis received high praise from Pep Guardiola for his exceptional skills, as he proved pivotal in Manchester City's triumph over RB Leipzig in the Champions League. The 18-year-old delivered an outstanding performance, helping the defending champions secure a 3-1 victory at the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday.

Lewis, who established himself as a first-team right-back last season, played a crucial role in Phil Foden's initial goal and consistently exemplified City's driving force.

City manager Guardiola, renowned for coaching legends such as Lionel Messi, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta at Barcelona, exuberantly exclaimed, "He is truly exceptional! What a talent!"

I have been a manager for 14, 15 years and consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to train one of the most exceptional players in Barcelona.

Discovering a player of his caliber, who possesses the ability to seamlessly navigate as a holding midfielder, effortlessly maneuvering within spaces, undoubtedly makes him one of the finest individuals I have ever coached.

Lewis, though modest and not very talkative, didn't get much playing time this season. However, he is set to play a significant role moving forward. Nonetheless, it was only when Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku were brought in as substitutes that the team managed to achieve a hard-earned win.

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Manchester City secured a well-deserved victory in Germany with late goals from Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku. Dominating the first half, City took the lead with a goal from Foden in the 25th minute. However, they faced a setback as Lois Openda equalized after the restart.

Erling Haaland squandered several opportunities, causing frustration in the second half. Foden came close to scoring but hit the crossbar. However, Alvarez finally broke the deadlock in the 84th minute with an impressive goal. In injury time, Doku sealed a second consecutive victory in Group G. After suffering consecutive defeats in domestic matches, Guardiola expressed satisfaction with returning to winning form.

He stated, "There was no progress three or four days ago due to our loss against Wolves. It was crucial to overcome that setback.

"We displayed excellent performance in all areas of the game. Although we did give away two or three transitions in the second half, it was expected. When a team can execute numerous early passes, exciting developments are bound to occur during the match.

"The guys who came from the bench, the contribution they have done is the key point. Everyone helped each other. I am really satisfied. It was a tough game."

Lewis shows huge promise for Man City

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Aged 18 years and 317 days, Lewis is City's youngest player to register an assist in the Champions League

We' Ben Grounds:

Rodri's presence, despite his ongoing domestic ban, had a significant calming effect that was absent in Saturday's loss against Wolves. However, it was Rico Lewis who stood out in midfield, impressing with his relentless pursuit of winning possession and powerful runs.

Lewis created City's first promising chance in the box with a skillful turn, but unfortunately his shot was blocked. Throughout the game, he consistently showcased his involvement and dedication.

After 25 minutes, City seized the opportunity to take the lead through a well-coordinated attack spearheaded by Lewis. Phil Foden perfectly executed the finishing touch, showcasing the fruitful collaboration between local talents in Manchester.

"At 1-1, Erling Haaland came close to securing a late breakthrough, which eventually materialized with a delightful five-yard pass from Lewis. The doubts surrounding City's depth, following back-to-back defeats, were quickly dispelled by a resounding response."

What's next for Man City?

Arsenal

Manchester City

Sunday 8th October 4:00pm

Kick off 4:30pm

Manchester City's upcoming challenge involves a significant Premier League confrontation against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. The match will be broadcast live on We from 4pm on Super Sunday, with the kick-off at 4.30pm. Subsequently, Pep Guardiola's team will welcome Brighton for a Premier League encounter on October 21, scheduled to begin at 3pm. Following that, on October 25, they will embark on a Champions League venture, facing Young Boys away with the kick-off at 8pm.

RB Leipzig's upcoming fixtures include a Bundesliga home match against VfL Bochum, scheduled for Saturday at 2.30pm. Following this, they will visit SV Darmstadt 98 in the league on October 21 at 2.30pm. Additionally, on October 25 at 8pm, RB Leipzig will be hosting Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League.