Lewis: City couldn’t have started the season better | OneFootball

Rico Lewis believes Manchester City couldn’t have made a better start to the 2024/25 season.

After Pep Guardiola’s team became the first men’s side to win four straight English top-flight titles last term, we entered the new campaign aiming to win an unprecedented fifth in succession.

This pursuit has seen us win all three of our opening Premier League assignments, with our impressive 3-1 away win over West Ham following triumphs over Chelsea and Ipswich.

So far, we have scored nine goals and conceded just twice, with our versatile Academy graduate playing every minute in the Premier League and registering an assist against the Irons.

And Lewis is delighted with our early form, but is hungry to build on City’s performances to date.

“Everyone is really happy – we’ve got the results that we needed. Nine points out of nine – there’s no better way to start. In terms of the result yes [it’s a dream start],” he declared.

“We want to win every game and that’s what we’ve done so far. It’s very easy to get complacent as it’s very early in the season but our performances have been very convincing and that’s the most important thing.”

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“[I’m] very happy. I said at the start of the season that I just want to be available for as many minutes as I can. Luckily, I’ve been selected for all three games, and I’m enjoying my football right now.

“Thanks to the manager for putting me in and it’s down to myself to stay at the level that the team is at which is so high. I’m really happy.”

Lewis has started and played the full 90 minutes of all three of our Premier League matches so far, with Guardiola deploying him in at right-back.

Throughout his time at the Club, though, he has also operated in defensive midfield and at centre-back as his precious versatility has been utilised by the Catalan.

For the 19-year-old, he says learning from world-class players such as Kyle Walker has transformed his game immensely and he has paid tribute to the England international.

He added: “It’s amazing. In my opinion, he’s [Walker] the best full-back in the world and if not the best Premier League full-back ever. Like Pep says, we’re both different players.

“He’s so good defensively, physically he’s much better and dominant than me but we have different qualities.

“That’s what you see throughout the whole team – different players in different positions and offering different things.”

Lewis’ sparkling displays at the start of the season has also earned him a deserved place in Lee Carsley’s England squad for upcoming Nations League fixtures with the Republic of Ireland and Finland in September.

City’s Academy graduate made his senior national team debut in November 2023, collecting the Player of the Match award in a 1-1 draw with North Macedonia.

That’s represented his only outing for the Three Lions in his fledgling career so far, and he’s relishing the opportunity to link-up with his international colleagues again.

He concluded: “I’m over the moon to be selected for the national team but more importantly I’ve been able to play all three games before the break and that’s all I can ask for.

“It’s always an honour to be called up to the national team. I’m excited for it and to see all the lads.”