In the official August issue of Manchester City's monthly newsletter, young defender Rico Lewis was interviewed to share his holiday life, his outlook on his career, his personal positional preferences and the valuable lessons he has learned from his teammates, as well as his expectations for the new season.
Vacation and Return to Training
Lewis admits that he had a great vacation, traveling to Marbella and the Greek island of Kos to relax with family and friends. However, as a professional player, he was soon eager to get back on the green and continue his footballing dreams. "The two-week vacation was great, but after that I wanted to get back to soccer and training!" So he said.
World Cup Dreams
Speaking about the upcoming World Cup, Lewis made no secret of his desire: "My main goal is to play as many games as possible and play at a high level so that I can be selected for the England squad. It's absolutely fantastic to be involved." He understands that he still has work to do to cement his place in City's first team, but already sees representing his country at the World Cup as his long-term goal.
The most suitable location
Lewis has a clear perception of his position on the field, "Last season I played a lot as an attacking midfielder and as a number 8, which is my favorite position I've ever played." He enjoys being creative and scoring goals and assists on the attacking end and believes it is a young player's dream position.
Learned from my teammates
Lewis singled out two teammates who had a profound impact on him - Foden and Rodney. He learned ball-handling skills and calm in-game thinking from Foden, while Rhodri became his role model with his all-round ability and leadership qualities. "Playing with him was like a dream, he always thought two steps ahead of everyone else." Lewis speaks with respect about Rodri.
Outlook for the new season
Looking ahead to the new season, Lewis believes Arsenal and Liverpool will be City's main rivals for the title. "Arsenal have been the main title contenders for the past two seasons, while Liverpool may get into the swing of things quicker with a new coach." However, he also emphasized that the Premier League is very competitive and any team can become a dark horse, which makes the title race in the new season even more suspenseful and interesting.
