{"id":11333,"date":"2025-10-22T14:27:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T14:27:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/11333\/"},"modified":"2025-10-22T14:27:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T14:27:13","slug":"manchester-citys-rico-lewis-eager-to-seize-midfield-chance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/11333\/","title":{"rendered":"Manchester City\u2019s Rico Lewis eager to seize midfield chance"},"content":{"rendered":"

The England international did just that with a strong showing in City\u2019s 2-0 win at Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Most of the 20-year-old\u2019s outings have come at right-back, but manager Pep Guardiola gave him a run in his preferred central position at the Estadio de la Ceramica.<\/p>\n

Victory at Villarreal \ud83d\udcaa<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udfe1 0-2 \ud83d\udc9a pic.twitter.com\/9EHWaTES8k<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Manchester City (@ManCity) October 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

He responded, in what was just his fourth start of the season, with an energetic display and linked well with team-mates, most notably providing the assist for Erling Haaland\u2019s opener.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is nothing better than playing and I\u2019m obviously happy to be playing in midfield as well,\u201d said the City academy graduate. \u201cMost importantly we got the three points so there are no complaints from me.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously it is difficult (coming in), but I was that excited that it masked that difficulty. I knew I needed to go and prove a point.<\/p>\n

\u201cI needed to prove myself because I\u2019ve always wanted to play in midfield and talk about it all the time. When I get the opportunity, I want to take it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a difficult game \u2013 they\u2019re a good team \u2013 but I think that I found the spaces and got an assist so I can\u2019t really ask for more.\u201d<\/p>\n

A message from Rico \ud83e\ude75 pic.twitter.com\/YVecZVvOib<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Manchester City (@ManCity) October 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Lewis may have looked comfortable as he slotted into his role alongside captain Bernardo Silva and Nico Gonzalez, but he insisted it was far from a straightforward assignment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt didn\u2019t feel like that, I was so tired,\u201d he said. \u201cAfter 10 minutes I was thinking, \u2018I don\u2019t think I\u2019m going to be able to make it to half-time\u2019, but the basics are always going to be there.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t play for five games in a row, but the team is so good that you fit in. We do it so much in training, you know the spaces.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can be playing or not playing, but everybody knows where everyone is going to be. It\u2019s a good sign early on that we have that kind of structure already and it will only progress.\u201d<\/p>\n

City took control when Haaland swept in Lewis\u2019 cutback after 16 minutes. It was the prolific Norwegian\u2019s 15th goal of the campaign and a remarkable 24th in just 14 outings for club and country.<\/p>\n

It was also the 12th game in succession in which he has struck and a 53rd goal in the Champions League, moving him 10th on the list of the competition\u2019s top scorers.<\/p>\n

\"ErlingHaaland (left) was on target for City once again (Alberto Salz\/AP)<\/p>\n

Silva doubled the lead with a powerful header before the interval and victory did not seem in doubt, although the night could have got uncomfortable had Villarreal taken one of a handful of second-half chances.<\/p>\n

Lewis said: \u201cThe performance, coming with a result like that, helps more than you think.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can win 1-0 and it be a bit scrappy and you can be happy while knowing that the performance wasn\u2019t good. But having a performance like that with a clean sheet and two goals is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n