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Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 4, 2023 at 8pm UK
Red Bull Arena
MC

RB Leipzig
1 - 3
Man City

Openda (48')
Schlager (72'), Raum (78')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Foden (25'), Alvarez (84'), Doku (90+2')
Akanji (65')

Pep Guardiola: 'Rico Lewis by far one of the best players I have ever coached'

:Headline: Pep Guardiola: 'Rico Lewis by far one of the best players I have ever coached':
Pep Guardiola describes Rico Lewis as "one of the best" players that he has ever coached after the Manchester City youngster starred in Wednesday's 3-1 Champions League win over RB Leipzig.
Sports Mole

Pep Guardiola has described Rico Lewis as "one of the best" players that he has ever had the pleasure to train as a manager after the Manchester City youngster starred in Wednesday's 3-1 Champions League win over RB Leipzig.

Lewis, primarily a full-back, has shown his versatility since breaking into Guardiola's first team last season, and he was handed a start in centre-midfield alongside lynchpin Rodri at the Red Bull Arena.

The 18-year-old played a huge part in City's opening goal, linking up well with Bernardo Silva down the right flank before bursting into the box and cutting a cross into the patch of fellow academy graduate Phil Foden, who made the net ripple with a wonderful first-time finish.

Leipzig equalised just three minutes after the break through Lois Openda, but late strikes from Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku – two inspired substitutions from Guardiola – helped the Citizens claim maximum points and return to winning ways following back-to-back domestic defeats.

While the impact of Alvarez and Doku was key to City's success, Lewis was a standout performer throughout the 90 minutes for the visitors, contributing at both ends of the pitch and showing his composure and class when in possession.

Guardiola heaped praise on the teenager after the full-time whistle and the former Barcelona boss, who has worked with the likes of Lionel Messi among many others during his glistening managerial career, believes that Lewis is up there with the best he has ever coached.

Discussing Lewis's impressive performance in an interview with TNT Sports, Guardiola said: "What a player. 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 holding midfield, full-back coming inside moving in the spaces – he is one of the best I ever trained by far."

Guardiola added: "He is a humble guy, doesn't talk much, but has the appreciation of all his mates.

"He didn't play much this season - last season he was a key point and helped us understand what we should do in our build up. Today was proof again. This season he hasn't played as much but he is going to play a lot."

Foden, who was named Man of the Match, lauded Lewis's performance against Leipzig, telling mancity.com: "He did brilliant to pull it back to me. Two academy boys linking up, it's nice to see.

"He's the one who changes the tempo for us when we need it. He's sharp in the midfield and he breaks the lines. He's a great talent to have. He made us play better today for sure."

Lewis was handed just his second start in the Champions League versus Leipzig since making his full European debut against Sevilla in November last year when he became City's youngster-ever scorer in the competition as well as the youngest player to score on his first start in Europe's premier club tournament.

The youngster has made a total of 29 senior appearances for the Citizens in all competitions, including six so far this season, and he will be in contention to keep his place in the starting lineup when Guardiola's side return to Premier League action against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. body check tags ::

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144
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