Rico Lewis makes honest admission over Man City form and injuries: 'It's been ridiculous'
Rico Lewis and engine room partner Mateo Kovacic don’t have Rodri’s stature or power, yet, but will be given the chance to impress after he was ruled out for the season - with Kevin De Bruyne also out injured
by Simon Bird · The MirrorRico Lewis has digested a week when Manchester City dropped four points - and declared there is no panic.
The England right back admitted it has been a “tough” and “ridiculous” seven days after snatching a late draw against Arsenal and then losing a lead to draw at St James Park.
Kyle Walker trudged off shaking his head like it wasn’t good enough on Saturday. Frustrated Jack Grealish was mocked by Toon fans, and responded by telling them to shush.
But Lewis reckons the two points secured against high quality opponents will be valuable come May. CIty are on the road to Bratislava on Tuesday night in the Champions League with Pep Guardiola insisting they “need a solution” to midfielder Rodri’s injury absence adding: “We will find a solution.”
Lewis and engine room partner Mateo Kovacic don’t have Rodri’s stature or power, yet, but will be given the chance, with Kevin De Bruyne also out injured. Ilkay Gundogan is still finding his feet after rejoining late in the window.
Lewis said: “It's been a tough week with tough games. When you look in the grand scheme of things, maybe we'll be happy in the future with how we did this week.
“We want to win every game. Even though you could look at it as two points from two of our hardest games of the season, we have to take the negatives and positives, improve on what we can do better and also continue to do what we were doing well.
“We're disappointed with dropping two points but we have to take the positives from it. It's difficult. Everyone knows how tough and ridiculous the schedule is but we can't just not play, we have to get on with it. That's why we've got so many top quality players in the squad. We need everyone and we never know when we will end them.
“If you look into the details of the games, we'd probably take a point against Arsenal. It was a tough game. Here, we want to win but it's a tough place to come and not many people will come here and win easily. It's difficult to say but that is football.”
Lewis is only 19 but mature, and trusted, enough to field questions about the degree City missed injured Rodri, as he looks forward to the opportunity it gives him in midfield.
He added: “It will take time. If anyone is injured, it's the same. We know how important Rodri is but the situation is over now, we can't do anything about it and we've got to crack on and sort it out ourselves. That'll come with time.”
Josko Gvardiol’s opener was cancelled out by Anthony Gordon’s penalty and both side’s had good chances to win it. Lewis has started at right back but sees himself as a midfielder, and praise from Guardiola is an incentive to get even better.
He said: “It's really nice but with that also I need to prove him right and when he compliments me I need to do just as well in the next game. It's encouragement to carry on doing well.
“I don't really have a “best” position right now. There's a long way in my career to go. I like playing in the pockets, I like playing as a midfielder on the ball but I also like playing full-back. It's not always a bad thing to have options but maybe in the future I'll have more of a clear position.”
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