Manchester City have started the season strongly despite last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Wolves, which was their first defeat of the season. Last season’s Premier League and Champions League champions sit at the top of the Premier League table with 18 points from seven games, winning six so far this season.
While Erling Haaland tops the Premier League chart for goalscorers, he continues to shoot blank in the UEFA Champions League, where he was the top scorer last season. After yesterday’s 3-1 win over Leipzig, Pep Guardiola praised 18-year-old Rico Lewis for his impressive performance and his maturity since breaking into the first team last season.
Manchester City boss singles out Rico Lewis
Manchester City cruised to a 3-1 victory over RB Leipzig in their second Champions League group-stage game of the season, much to Guardiola’s delight. The Premier League champions suffered their first defeat of the season at Wolves last weekend, missing the opportunity to go four points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Guardiola found one man to praise after the match, and he was 18-year-old Rico Lewis. The young defensive midfielder, who can also double as a full-back, broke into the first team last season, scoring his first goal in the Champions League in the process and becoming a treble-winner at a very young age.
“He played good, huh?” Pep Guardiola asked a TNT interviewer. “What a player; 18 years old. I’ve been managing for 14-15 years, training unbelievable players. To find a player like him in the pockets, how he has to move, moving into the spaces – he’s one of the best I ever trained. He’s an outstanding player. He has a huge personality and can play in four of five positions. He’s not scared, his defending is really good. He’s a fantastic player,” the Spaniard concluded.
Rico Lewis is highly rated at Manchester City. Pep has seamlessly slotted the young Englishman into the first team, and everyone at the club thinks he’s one for the future.
Haaland scoreless streak in the UCL continues
Erling Haaland bossed the UCL last season, scoring 11 goals in Manchester City’s treble-winning season. However, he hasn’t been able to replicate that form this season, as his goal drought in the competition continues.
The former Borussia Dortmund striker hasn’t scored a Champions League goal since April, but Guardiola won’t be too worried as Haaland continues to score for form in the Premier League. The Norwegian will be confident of finally getting a Champions League when City play their third group-stage game away to Young Boys.
Can Guardiola win the Champions League twice in a row with City? Tell us your predictions in the comments.
