Manchester City full-back Rico Lewis is the perfect fit for Pep Guardiola’s tactical evolution, says Jamie Carragher | Football News

Jamie Carragher has heaped praise on Manchester City defender Rico Lewis, describing the 18-year-old as ‘perfect’ for Pep Guardiola’s system.

Riyad Mahrez struck twice as City produced a stunning display to keep their title hopes alive with a 4-2 win over Tottenham.

The Premier League champions were rocked when Spurs scored twice through Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal in first-half stoppage time following Ederson’s error at the Etihad Stadium.

After doubling the hosts’ lead, Lewis made a crucial block to deny Ivan Perisic a chance to restore Spurs’ lead on the hour mark with the youngster diverting his shot onto the woodwork.

The versatile defender didn’t know much about the block, but it was an intervention that could prove crucial in the final reckoning after City completed a stunning second half.

Carragher believes Guardiola is Lewis from the start with merit, and having already excelled on the left side of defense when he preferred Joao Cancelo, he further justified his choice ahead of Kyle Walker on Thursday night.

“The youngster made a fortune with Perisic’s chance,” Carragher said Sky Sports. “What he’s doing now at 18 … is not just playing the position he’s playing – it’s the tactical understanding of getting into midfield.

“He plays ahead of England’s right-back. At 18, he will be an experienced international – someone who has won almost every trophy you can win.

“I don’t think it’s a case of rotation tonight. I don’t think Pep likes Kyle Walker at Old Trafford, and the lad is incredible every time he plays and [Guardiola thought] ‘I’ll put him into a big game that Manchester City must win’.

“They have to win, and they are fantastic. When Pep Guardiola came to the club six or seven years ago, you could see in the first game what he wanted from the full-backs.

“It is not something that grew over time as you can see it immediately. Lewis would have been around 11 then in the academy, so it is something that has been fed down the age group very early.

“It has been done in the academy how Guardiola wants full-back players so he has been trained to be like this for many years. Although we praise him for doing it, he may have been used to playing this way, last week. , week out with junior side.

“He’s a perfect fit.”

Lewis gives Guradiola control

Faced with the prospect of beating leaders Arsenal by eight points and having played more games, Guardiola’s side roused themselves after the break.

City were booed by a small section of fans as they headed into the dressing room, but the response was incredible – and Lewis’ mature performance was the catalyst for his return to his home team.

Man City Women midfielder Izzy Christiansen added: “She is more reliable in possession. Her close control is incredible and she releases the ball at the right time. She has great defensive instincts.

“Pep Guardiola knows how good he is and every time I’ve seen him play this season, Kyle Walker brings a more dynamic style to his game, but Guardiola wants to control the game.

“Right now, Rico Lewis is giving us that control because his understanding of the game is beyond his years.

“In the first few seasons under Pep at City, the full-backs were over-lapping and under-lapping. We don’t see that often now as the modern full-back in Pep’s system is Rico Lewis. He plays deeper. The number 6 role, controlling playing with Rodri. They play in the same line.

“I see the evolution of what Guardiola is doing because Walker helped Chelsea in the FA Cup with an overlap against Chelsea but that’s the old Man City. That’s another aspect of Guardiola’s evolution.”

Richards: Pep’s defender is now a midfielder

Former Man City defender Micah Richards told Sky Sports:

“The reason full-backs under Pep now play this way is to leave the wide men, and leave them one-on-one. Several times tonight, Lewis dragged Son inside to leave Stones to play ball. to roll out.

“Technically, he is fantastic. I don’t want to put too much pressure on him. When Kyle Walker exploded at Spurs, he was a marauding full-back. He has learned a different system.

“Lewis has been raised through this new thing, and that’s why he seems so comfortable.”

Why is the evolution of full-back sideways

Carragher added: “When we talk about the evolution of full-backs, we talk about Manchester City and Arsenal. These are two teams with the same principles as Mikel Arteta as Guardiola’s disciple.

“No one else does it. The reason Pep does it is because he likes wide players and then the two midfielders play as number 10. to get the ball in possession.

“It’s really just to stop the counter-attack. So you almost have five forwards and five behind the ball. That was the problem for Man City in Spurs’ second goal when Rodri was left alone.

“City will play Stones on the right while they play at the back with Nathan Ake on the left, Akanji in the middle with Lewis in the middle with Rodri so it’s almost 3-2-5 Pep plays.

“The team of this system is playing very well now and a lot of it was in Pep Guardiola when he came to Barcelona. He changed football. Now, many people follow his model but I still feel that the full-back position still has a lot. A lot of Pep and Arteta. Teams still don’t do the same thing today.