Rico Lewis has been praised for his involvement in Phil Foden’s opener as Manchester City recorded a 3-1 win over RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League.
It was Robbie Savage – commentating on the Group G clash for TNT Sports – who heaped praise on the Manchester City No.82 as the Citizens went 1-0 up inside the Red Bull Arena.
So, what was said about Rico Lewis? Let’s take a look…
What’s the story?
Well, the 18-year-old delivered a midfield masterclass against RB Leipzig on just his second start of the 2023/24 campaign.
Lewis set up his fellow Manchester City academy graduate Foden for the opening goal with an excellent cross, while Savage also praised the teenager’s run which allowed him to find space to deliver the assist.
The 48-year-old said: “What about Rico Lewis, how well he is performing. It is a brilliant run. It is a fantastic pull back for Phil Foden and that is a magnificent finish. It is not an easy finish, Foden had to adjust his body and he hits it into the ground.
“Lewis in the buildup starts the move and gets the cross in and picks out Foden. Deserved for City.”
It was a phenomenal display from the England Under-21 international.
Pep Guardiola even described Lewis as one of the best players he’s ever coached in his post-match press conference, which is a huge statement considering the calibre of footballer the Spaniard has previously worked with.
Rico Lewis delivered a coming of age performance for Manchester City
Everyone at the Etihad Stadium knew just how talented Lewis was before Wednesday’s win, although his performance inside the Red Bull Arena will surely make the wider footballing world sit up and take notice.
As WhoScored shows, the Bury-born wonderkid remarkably made five key passes against RB Leipzig, more than any other player on the pitch registered.
That speaks volumes when you consider the fact Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish were also involved.
Lewis also made three successful tackles, more than any of his teammates.
It was an exceptional performance, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see him start against Arsenal on Sunday as a result – he was that good.
