Manchester City will be delighted to return back to winning ways as they beat Watford 2-1 in the Third Round of the Carabao Cup.
Pep Guardiola’s men were far from their sparkling best against Tom Cleverley’s side but considering he made nine changes to his starting line-up, a box-office display was perhaps unexpected in any case.
A better barometer of how Manchester City fare going forward will be against Newcastle United on Saturday.
For the time being, City will be satisfied that they qualified for the Fourth Round of the Carabao Cup.
Kit Symons raves about Man City teenager in Watford win
However, the real headline from the team that played at the Etihad Stadium was seeing Kaden Braithwaite make his debut for the Sky Blues from the very off.
- Who is Kaden Braithwaite? All there is to know about the centre-back starlet and Man City’s 3rd youngest player ever
The teenager became the club’s third-youngest debutant, aged just 16 years and 229 days.
The highly-rated youngster started in a back four featuring Rico Lewis, Kyle Walker and John Stones.
The City gem was tasked with playing at left-back against the Championship side.
However, when the hosts had the possession, the starlet played on the left-hand side of a back three.
Kit Symons lauded Braithwaite’s performance after Manchester City defeated Watford.
On the club’s official full-time show, the pundit said: “As I said, physicality wise, he’s a big lad, he can more than hold his own physically and looked so comfortable on the ball and looked really accomplished there tonight.”
“As I said, very comfortable, didn’t try and force things with his passing, kept the ball really, really well and looks like he’s going to be a really good player for Man City for many years to come.”
Kaden Braithwaite did not look out of place in a Man City shirt
Braithwaite deserves all the credit in the world for looking the part on his first-team debut for City.
The teenage talent defended astutely and often made key interceptions while looking comfortable on the ball.
Initially, the Englishman looked like he was struggling with the physical demands of first-team football.
Braithwaite did not look flustered as he played the most important game in his career and grew into the game.
Instead, the versatile defender, who is capable of playing both in central defence and at left-back kept things simple and impressed.
Braithwaite’s debut was cut short as he cramped up and was replaced by Josko Gvardiol.
But the Manchester City defender can pat himself on the back after a monumental night of his career.
