Pep Guardiola started Rico Lewis in a makeshift role for Manchester City’s Premier League meeting with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, but the 18-year-old was guilty of making a mistake that led to Spurs scoring the winner in the first-half.
Lewis was meant to receive a pass from Rodri in his defensive third but had the ball pinched by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg who fed Harry Kane to score from close range. Chris Sutton didn’t criticise the defender for the mistake, however, as he believes it’s Guardiola who is ‘asking a lot’ of him.
Sutton wrote for the Daily Mail: “Asking 18-year-old Rico Lewis to constantly receive the ball on the half-turn while Tottenham’s pressers lurk like vultures? Madness. Lewis is neat and tidy, young and talented, keen and confident, but City are asking a lot of this academy kid.”
Lewis has made 14 appearances in all competitions this season, featuring in six of City’s last seven league outings. The England U19 international is enjoying a successful breakthrough campaign that will soon see him sign an improved long-term deal, but he won’t have had fun on Sunday.
The 18-year-old was out-muscled and caught flat-footed when Rodri made the pass, which is something Guardiola would have warned about in that position, but Lewis should learn from the mistake. Tottenham’s goal came in the 15th minute, so City have enough time to peg the Lilywhites back too.
In other news, Gary Neville explains what ‘feels strange’ about Pep Guardiola
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