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Pep Guardiola said Rico Lewis “changed the game” after his half-time introduction helped Manchester City claim a 1-0 win over Chelsea, praising the 18-year-old’s ability to make the players around him better.
City were second best in the first half at Stamford Bridge and were fortunate not to fall behind when Carney Chukwuemeka sent a low shot wide of the goal before the interval.
But his performance improved dramatically after Guardiola brought on Lewis and Manuel Akanji for Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker, a change that helped City make an important breakthrough.
Two other substitutes, Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez, combined for the decisive goal, with Guardiola later joking that he was a “genius” for the change, but the City boss was more keen to highlight Lewis’ contribution in his press conference.
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FREE WATCH: Highlights from Manchester City’s win over Chelsea
The academy product usually plays as a right-back, but he slotted into midfield after Bernardo Silva’s withdrawal and helped Guardiola’s side take control of the game.
“It wasn’t a good first half, it wasn’t good, we didn’t create much, our pressure was too little, we didn’t organize well,” Guardiola said when asked about the substitutions.
“The last game, Rico has shown his ability to make the midfield better.
“There are players who play well for themselves, but they have the ability to make the whole team better.
“Every moment he knows when to open up inside, and what to do. He changes the game.”
Lewis has started three games in a row ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge and now looks set to play a key role in City’s push for trophies in the second half of the campaign.
“Since we came back [from the World Cup] he plays and is a key player for us,” added Guardiola. “He is a key player for us in the way we play now.”
“In the second half it was a very different Man City, a different rhythm. They changed the dynamic from minute one.”
Rico Lewis replaces Joao Cancelo at half-time
There is praise from Sky Sports punditry team too.
“Man City’s rhythm was better when he came on,” said Karen Carney.
“Pep Guardiola always talked about rhythm and Rico Lewis came into the middle of the pitch, helped him to stop the counter-attack along with Rodri and he started to find his rhythm when he got better players in better positions.
“He’s very good and for a young player with the intelligence of that game, he’s very special.”
Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink added: “He understands what the job is and what Pep wants from him, he gets it and does it. That’s why Pep loves him.
“He is very disciplined in the organization of the team. With or without the ball, he always plays with ease. He runs to places when he has to go and keeps the ball.
“That’s what Pep wants. He likes players who keep the ball and play one or two, sometimes three touches. He’s a Pep player.”
Manchester City’s Phil Foden has been linked with a move to Chelsea
Analysis: How Lewis responded to Pep’s confidence
Sky Sports’ Nick Wright at Stamford Bridge:
It’s a testament to Guardiola’s faith in Lewis that he not only turned him on to change this big game, but pushed him into the maelstrom of midfield.
The first half was exhausting, with City struggling to control the middle of the pitch in the face of Denis Zakaria, Carney Chukwuemeka and the power and physicality of Mateo Kovacic.
But that all changed with the introduction of Lewis, who, judging by the number of passes he made, the youngster completed all 27 passes he attempted, putting City under constant pressure to score.
He kept it simple, but that was what City needed and, as Guardiola said after the match, he gave the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne the platform to perform better.
He may have been more impressive on the ball, however, at times getting in on the right and also helping City’s defense alongside Rodri, making two successful tackles and showing great tactical intelligence in his position.
His playing time in the Premier League was just 191 minutes before this game making his guaranteed performance even better. Rico Lewis, the future of City but also the present.
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