A familiar relationship may offer a versatile Manchester City player a path forward | OneFootball

With Enzo Maresca now the Manchester City manager after Pep Guardiola stepped down after ten years in the City hot seat, a host of players who were on the periphery of the City squad have been given a clean slate. Maresca has his own views on City’s players which differ from Guardiola’s. This could be a positive for several Manchester City players. One of those is Rico Lewis. Lewis has a close relationship with Enzo Maresca, which he has spoken about. Also, Maresca may have a role in mind for Lewis, which will allow him to play more often than he did last season.

The relationship that Rico Lewis has with Enzo Maresca is a good starting point for him.

Rico Lewis broke into the Manchester City side during City’s treble-winning 2022-23 season. Enzo Maresca was working as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at the time. In an interview on mancity.com, Rico Lewis has spoken on the relationship he previously had with Manchester City’s new manager. He explained: “When he was with us in the Treble season, most of the time after sessions he would take me do individual sessions which I really appreciated. We had a good relationship but it wasn’t too long because he was only there for that season. It’s good to have him back.”

Rico Lewis put in a promising display in Manchester City’s first friendly of the summer against Inter Milan. He played at right-back in the first half, before being shifted in the midfield for the second 45 minutes. Lewis played a lot better in midfield rather than at right-back. The England international revealed that he is unsure what role he will play next season, but he will speak about this with Maresca soon enough. Lewis said: “We’ve not spoken about the position I’ll play yet but I played full-back and midfield the other day [against Inter], so that gives me an idea of what he’s thinking. I will speak to him but I just want to play. That’s the main thing for me, I just want to be playing football and helping the team.”

Rico Lewis wants to help his team and he should be given the opportunity to do by Enzo Maresca.

It is impossible to ignore Rico Lewis’ quote that he wants to play football and helping his team. Last season, Lewis fell down the pecking order at Manchester City. Lewis’ ability to play at right-back or in midfield may offer him an opportunity to play more often for Enzo Maresca. However, being useful in two roles may have hindered Lewis from establishing himself in a more prominent role for Pep Guardiola. Perhaps Enzo Maresca has a specific role in mind for Lewis to play.

One advantage of Enzo Maresca taking over from Pep Guardiola for Rico Lewis is the pre-existing relationship that the pair have. Maresca, like Guardiola, intimately knows the strengths and weaknesses of Lewis’ game. However, Maresca isn’t Guardiola so the Italian manager may have a different take altogether on what Rico Lewis offers. This familiar relationship between the pair could definitely work in the favour of Rico Lewis as well as Maresca’s view on Lewis as a player.

Rico Lewis has a pre-established relationship with Enzo Maresca. This could be crucial to Lewis’ hopes of playing more often at Manchester City. There is a role for Lewis in the City squad. Hopefully Maresca can find it as Lewis is a talented player who needs a defined role to take his game to the next level.