Embargoed Press Conference: Pep Guardiola reveals Rico Lewis decision on Manchester City future | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed he has received a decision from Rico Lewis over the player’s Etihad Stadium future.

The Catalan’s new-look squad cruised their way to a 0-4 victory on the opening weekend of the latest Premier League season, dismissing of Vitor Pereira’s side at Molineux courtesy of goals from Erling Haaland, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Cherki.

The performance on the road also showcased a number of impressive performances from players at the centre of headlines for various reasons over the last 12 months, namely Oscar Bobb, James Trafford, and Rico Lewis.

The latter has been at the centre of transfer speculation in recent weeks, with Nottingham Forest said to be eyeing a deal in excess of £30 million for the England international, while Trafford has staked a serious claim for the mainstay number one role moving forward.

All three of those names were among the talking points discussed between reporters at Molineux and Manchester City’s head coach after the contest, with Guardiola speaking highly of all involved.

Following the release of the second-half of Pep Guardiola’s post-match press conference at Wolves on Saturday evening, here is every single word from the Manchester City manager!

On whether he has spoken to Rico Lewis amid Manchester City exit links: “I think he’s going to stay, I think. (Has he told you that?) He told me that. But, I said, maybe tomorrow, after tomorrow, it’ll change.

“For example the case from Phil [Foden], or from Rico, or from Nico O’Reilly, I have a special sympathy because they were 16 or 17 years old when he arrived here [in the first-team] and starts to win Premier Leagues.

“And his [Rico Lewis’] role, when he plays his role, Rico is an extraordinary player. The only problem I have is he’s so small. If he was taller, I would say, ‘Oh, what a player.’ It’s that. Today, today [Saturday after Wolves], I think he’s going to stay, but I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

On James Trafford’s Premier League debut for Manchester City: “Yeah, Academy from many, many years and playing the first Premier League game away with a clean sheet and he made a good, good performance, made good saves.

“He’s tall, his presence is really good, and I think the people love a lot, likes a lot to have a home grown player from the academy playing with us. It’s really good. People identify with Phil [Foden], with Nico [O’Reilly], all the players that come [from] there, it’s nice.”

On whether James Trafford could step up if Ederson was to leave: “Ederson is my player. He’s our player. Ederson has been the keeper of the six Premier Leagues in seven years. He’s the keeper of the Champions League and he won it, saving in Madrid, and the Final [vs Inter in 2023] in the last minutes. He’s the player that played during nine years, every single game.

“So he deserves beyond, beyond respect. I’m the manager, all the success we had thanks to a few of these players and Eddie is one of them. Today [vs Wolves] he would have played, the problem he had he was ill. What happened? I don’t know.

“There was rumours two years ago, it was in Saudi [Arabia], and at the end he’s been with us. Always he has behaved unbelievably. And the club has to have always two or three good keepers.

“And look at Stefan Ortega who is here in that position, and hopefully we can find a solution, but Stefan gave us the league saving [from Heung-min] Son in Spurs away in that moment. Who always played played really good. So that’s why we’re lucky to have really, really good keepers.”

On the return of Oscar Bobb and his impact: “Now I realise when I saw him in the first half, even the second, how much we missed him last season. He’s a guy who [doesn’t] need too much, he’s like Phil [Foden], in a few training sessions with physicality, he’s sharp, quick and yeah, I’m so happy he’s back.

“I don’t know since how long he didn’t play 90 minutes in the high level, maybe one year! He’s so strong, so disciplined in defensive issues and in the small spaces. He’s an incredible threat. Hopefully he can be healthy.

“[It’s the] Only [thing] I ask for him is to be healthy, be strong in his head, and I’m pretty sure he’s going to help us in that position, even more in the interior position. He’s another quality player in the academy that for the last decade has been unbelievable, how much amount of good players this club has created, for the incredible managers we have in the academy, and I have the feeling that right now the second team in the EDS have still really good players, too.”

On the new PUMA Premier League ball: “I didn’t play today, so I don’t know. What I’m concerned, my players didn’t complain. And it’s Puma, right? Puma always make really, really good things.”