Pep Guardiola has hailed Rico Lewis’ displays at the start of the 2024/25 season after the England international’s superb showing in City’s 3-1 win over West Ham.

After making 27 appearances in all competitions last term, our versatile Academy graduate has started and played the full 90 minutes in our opening three assignments this campaign.

This has seen him expertly play at right-back for the Blues in the absence of Kyle Walker, helping us to victories over Chelsea, Ipswich and the Irons – registering an assist in the latter.

And the boss believes the 19-year-old possesses special qualities on and off the ball, but stressed the importance of City’s squad depth when our schedule intensifies.

“Absolute, absolutely [he’s playing well]. Have you seen the minutes he played in the pocket? I said many times, Rico has one incredible ability that for many years, it was difficult to find,” he explained.

“Always he is free, always he is alone. When his mate has the ball. I don’t know what he does, but he’s free. You can pass the ball to him, and not just in positions where it’s comfortable, but in positions where the space is so tight, arriving in the third final.

“He is a good defender and can play in two or three positions. He’s playing good so he deserves to play. But every three days he cannot sustain that.

“We need Kyle [Walker] back, John [Stones] back, and all the players ready, because the schedule that comes from now on until the end of the season will be difficult.

“That’s what I said. Pre-season is over today. It’s over officially. The real season starts after the international break.

Our strong 3-1 win over West Ham in London represented our final league game before September’s international break.

Across the two-week pause in domestic action, England have selected Lewis, Jack Grealish, John Stones and Phil Foden for Nations League matches with the Republic of Ireland and Finland.

But Guardiola doesn’t anticipate Foden linking-up with his national team as he recovers from illness.

He added: “I don’t think so right now. I think he will not go [on international duty], but I don’t know, because he [Foden] doesn’t feel well otherwise he would be here.

“But like I said before, the international teams, they decide. He doesn’t feel good in his stomach, a little virus, but the people say he will be fine.”

Watch Guardiola‘s full press conference in the video player above!

Lewis: City couldn’t have started the season better

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.”

“[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.”