Pep Guardiola said the opportunities that Rico Lewis has taken are there for any Manchester City youngster willing to be patient. Lewis, 17, enjoyed a dream full debut as he scored the equalising goal in a 3-1 win over Sevilla with the young right-back lashing the ball into the net before enjoying a standing ovation from the home crowd when he was substituted late in the game. His progress is the latest success story in an academy that is producing plenty of talent for City’s first team and for many other clubs. Guardiola has been delighted with Lewis this season after being convinced to take a chance on him in pre-season. As promising as he is, the defender still had to earn his start this evening.
Pep Guardiola said: “We see him every day. We don’t give presents here. You’re not going to play just because you’re a Manchester City fan or you’re from the academy – you have to earn it. We’ve seen it since day one in the United States when he played a few minutes against Bayern Munich, and in training sessions we felt he had something special. He’s aggressive enough defensively, he has a lot of margin to improve but on the ball playing inside he is so good and outside he showed today good crossing, one against one in the final third. The academy here with Jason Wilcox is working amazingly, since Jadon Sancho, Brahim Diaz, Phil Foden, James McAtee, Cole Palmer there are many talented players and the guys who want to stay and fight for this position will have a chance. If they are not patient and listen to agents more than what the future is here they can leave but you saw the reception from the crowd, how they are pleased about having people from the academy playing for us. They can help us because they have quality. He’s a perfect scenario, already qualified, at home with our people, he has the idea to be better, wants to improve, always open to new skills, but he’s only 17, he’s shown he can be with us. It depends on him.”
