Rico Lewis has admitted that he was hoping not to feature off the bench against Bayern Munich during a pre-season friendly in July last year.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, the highly-rated talent highlighted his nerves as a reason behind his hesitation, considering it is always a landmark moment for a youngster to make an appearance for their boyhood club at senior level.
However, after Manchester City beat Bayern Munich 1-0 on the day, Rico Lewis’ sparkling cameo emerged as one of the primary talking points from the contest.
Rico Lewis admits he initially did not want to come off the bench against Bayern in a pre-season friendly in 2022
Many would perhaps be surprised by the 18-year-old’s admission, with Phil Foden also having branded him as the ‘total opposite’ of a typically timid young player.
Since bursting onto the scene for Manchester City, the English right-back has always seemed composed and ready to compete against the best of the best.
However, Rico Lewis has now said that initially, he did not want to come off the bench against Bayern during a pre-season friendly.
“The Bayern Munich game is the one everyone remembers”, Lewis told the Daily Mail.
“I didn’t want to come on. Even though it’s pre-season, for me, it’s massive, it’s scary. But as soon as you start playing, I just wanted to carry on.”
The Manchester City wonderkid did not look out of place in and amongst the very best
At the end of the day, the nerves did not get the better of Rico Lewis, who put in a statement performance as a substitute against Bayern in the friendly encounter between the two sides.
Most notably, the teenager ghosted past a series of opposition defenders on the right flank before hitting the post in an attempt that was inches away from being a sumptuous solo goal.
Lewis also regained possession on several instances and on the ball, his technical proficiency stood out.
Despite being tasked to rub shoulders against some of the best players in the world, Rico Lewis showcased that the upper echelon is where he has belonged from the very start of his career.
