Howey: Rico Lewis was running the show! | OneFootball

Steve Howey and Shaun Goater, our Matchday Live guests during City’s 4-1 triumph over Ipswich Town on Saturday, were full of praise for Academy graduate Rico Lewis who ‘ran the show’ at the Etihad.

Erling Haaland’s hat-trick saw the Norwegian striker take centre stage in our first home win of the new campaign.

But the former Blues were quick to show appreciation for City’s youngest player on the pitch, 19-year-old Rico Lewis, who was all over the pitch during the 90 minutes.

MATCH REPORT | CITY 4-1 IPSWICH TOWN

“There was parts of the game where he [Rico Lewis] was running the game, he was running the show,” said Howey.

“And when you look at the players that City have got on show and yet everything revolved around Rico.

“You’d see him in areas and almost wonder ‘what you doing there?!’. He was constantly in those pockets of nightmare for the opposition.

WATCH: Extended highlights: City 4-1 Ipswich

“He’s just such a wonderful player. Sometimes he was receiving the ball and was fully aware of what was around him and he’s just popping the ball off or turning and taking it.

“He just seems to have that full package of awareness but not only that the capability to finish off where he’s wanting the phase of play to go is fantastic.”

Since his senior debut in the 2022/23 season, Lewis has gone on to make 53 appearances in all competitions for City.

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And at just 19 years old, the defender already has two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one Champions League, one Club World Cup and one Super Cup trophy to his list of accolades.

But still a humble and extremely hard-working player in Pep Guardiola’s team, it comes as no surprise to Goater that Lewis is so well-liked by the City boss.

“He’s just so robust and resilient,” began Goater. “In today’s game some players will get the slightest touch and you’ll see them roll over. But Lewis is getting smashed, he’s getting kicked and he just jumps up and gets on with it.

“And I think it shows us his character. If he wins a free-kick, he doesn’t want it to be from cheating.

“And I can see why Pep trusts him because if they [the players] have good character, you want them in your team.

“And Rico certainly has the ability. It seems like he played nine positions today! He was taking up such effective areas. A phenomenal game.”