Pep Guardiola hailed Rico Lewis as one of the best players he has ever coached after his starring role in Manchester City’s hard-fought win at RB Leipzig.
The 18-year-old produced a commanding display as the holders maintained the winning start to their Champions League defence with a 3-1 success at the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday.
Lewis, who made his first-team breakthrough as a right-back last season, had a hand in Phil Foden’s opening goal and proved City’s main driving force throughout.
City manager Guardiola, the former Barcelona boss whose past players have included Lionel Messi, said: “What a player! What a player!
“I’ve been a manager for 14, 15, years and lucky to train one of the best players in the world in Barcelona.
“To find a player like him playing in the pockets, how he has to move as a holding midfielder, moving in the spaces, he is one of the best I’ve ever trained by far.
“He’s a humble guy, doesn’t talk much. He didn’t play much this season but he is going to play a lot.”
Despite Lewis’ contributions, it took the introduction of substitutes Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku to secure a hard-fought victory.
City controlled the first half and led at the break through Foden’s 25th-minute strike but they were pegged back after the restart by Lois Openda.
The second half was a frustrating affair with Erling Haaland missing several chances and Foden hitting the bar but Alvarez made the breakthrough with a stunning effort on 84 minutes.
Doku wrapped up a second successive win in Group G in injury time.
After back-to-back defeats domestically, Guardiola was pleased to get back to winning ways.
He said: “Three or four days ago it was no progress because we lost in Wolves. It was important to break that.
“We played a fantastic game in all departments. We conceded two or three transitions in the second half but it’s normal. When a team is able to make a lot of passes early on, very nice things are going to happen in the game.
“The guys who came from the bench, the contribution they have done is the key point. Everyone helped each other. I am really satisfied. It was a tough game.”
Leipzig coach Marco Rose was pleased with the effort of his side but had no complaints about the result.
Rose said: “Manchester City deserved to win, even if it was 1-1 in the 83rd minute and we had hoped to hold on until the end.
“We did well after the break and got our equaliser. It was then an open game then but City put us under pressure at the death again. We are learning from the best.”
McClaren relishes Reggae Boyz win against Nicaragua but stresses job isn’t done yet
Reggae Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren expressed satisfaction with his team’s crucial 2-0 victory over Nicaragua in their Concacaf Nations League Group B top-of-the-table clash on Thursday night, but he was quick to emphasize that the job is far from finished.
With a pivotal match against Honduras looming at the National Stadium on Monday, McClaren knows his team still has work to do to secure their place at the top of the group and ensure a spot in the quarterfinals, as well as a spot in the next Concacaf Gold Cup.
A 32nd-minute own goal from Nicaragua’s Josué Quijano and Romario Williams’ 69th-minute strike—his fourth on the international stage—gifted the Boyz all three points as they consolidated their lead atop the standings on seven points. They are one point ahead of Honduras (six points), with Nicaragua (four points) still within touching distance of making the top two.
Cuba (three points), Trinidad and Tobago (two points), and French Guiana (one point) complete the group, with all three in danger of being relegated from League A depending on the results of their final group encounters on Monday.
Reflecting on the win in Nicaragua, McClaren praised his players for their resilience and determination in what was a high-stakes encounter in a hostile environment on a tough artificial surface at Nicaragua’s National Stadium.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game. It was a great atmosphere against a difficult opponent, but we defended very well on a difficult surface, which we were not used to. I've got to credit the players for the mentality because everything's against you. I'm not saying the officials also, but we had our moments. So I'm pleased with the performance, the result, and where we are at the top of the league,” McClaren said.
“But we need to do a job on Monday; we want to continue the development and the identity which we have and also to keep the spirit high heading into another tough game on Monday against Honduras,” he added.
That said, McClaren was keen to highlight both the positives and areas that need improvement.
“We wanted to build a possession game, and we didn't quite have that. I think the surface was difficult, it took us a while to get used to that, particularly in the first half. In the second half, we were a lot more composed and controlled the game better. The difference is that in each penalty area we had quality, a couple of good moves, and we scored.
“Nicaragua had opportunities, but again, we blocked well, and Andre [Blake] made a fantastic save at the end because if that had gone in, then the last five minutes would have been very tense,” the Englishman explained.
McClaren also acknowledged the significant contributions from both seasoned campaigners and newer faces in the squad. One player he singled out was new recruit Mason Holgate, who recently committed to representing Jamaica through his grandparents’ heritage.
The England-born defender, who plays his club football for West Bromwich Albion, made his debut in the match after replacing Joel Latibeaudiere in the 75th minute, and looked solid in the backline.
"Mason [Holgate] coming into the team is a big boost for us," McClaren declared.
He continued: “It's something that we really push for as well, so I got to thank the JFF board, the president, and Roy Simpson, because I've been pestering them for the last few weeks to make sure that we bring in the likes of Mason.
“He brought that quality and experience, which we needed tonight (Thursday). Without Kasey Palmer and Michail Antonio, who got injured last night, we had to deal with that. So we needed Mason tonight and he came on and did the job.”
With the match against Honduras just days away, McClaren is ensuring his team remains grounded.
“We know what’s at stake. Beating Nicaragua was an important step, but if we don’t follow that up with a good performance against Honduras, it won’t mean much. We have to finish the job,” he ended.
Cuba comes from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Trinidad and Tobago
Cuba came from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw with Trinidad and Tobago in Group B CONCACAF Nations League action on Thursday at Estadio Antonio Maceo in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
Sheldon Bateau opened the scoring in the 8’ to give Trinidad and Tobago the lead with a header at the far post. Triston Hodge delivered the cross from the left side of the pitch.
Dairon Reyes came close to equalizing for Cuba in the 12’ with an attempt from outside the box that hit the woodwork.
A long-range right-footed drive from Maykel Reyes tied the match for the hosts in the 64’.
The Soca Warriors reclaimed the lead in the 70’ through a powerful left-footed strike to the far post from Joevin Jones from the edge of the box.
With the goal Jones took his tally to four and is Trinidad and Tobago’s all-time top scorer in the CNL.
Aniel Casanova equalized from close range inside the penalty box in the 75’ to secure the point for Cuba.
Cuba and T&T are fourth and fifth in the group with three and two points, respectively, and will meet again on Monday, this time at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Trinidad & Tobago.
Fernandes relishing Portugal challenge with Man Utd 'not in a positive moment'
Bruno Fernandes believes Manchester United's recent woes have left them "not in a positive moment", but he is hoping to take centre-stage for Portugal in the Nations League.
Fernandes has gone 12 games without finding the back of the net for United, his longest goal drought since he arrived at Old Trafford back in January 2020.
The Red Devils have failed to win their last five games across all competitions, with their last outing ending in a goalless draw against Aston Villa before the international break.
Erik ten Hag's side have managed eight points from their opening seven Premier League games, their fewest at this stage of a league campaign since 1989-90 (seven).
They have also failed to score in each of their last three Premier League games, equalling their worst run without a goal in the competition under Ten Hag's stewardship.
Fernandes is now preparing for Portugal's Nations League clash with Poland on Saturday, with the midfielder hoping to continue the Selecao's perfect start in Group A1.
"I will talk about myself personally. It changes a lot because the space is different. This is not a positive moment at Manchester, we are not winning games," Fernandes said.
"The space for the national team is completely different. It's a space where, in the last few days, I have felt very comfortable.
"I have felt that I can enjoy my football, and I think that in all the games we play we are going to win, and we have all benefited from what we've come to do, and I'm in my country, I speak my language, I have better food. All of this is connected with psychology.
"But the important thing is to know how to differentiate the moments, the places, but above all to make sure that what has been negative, try to pass that on to the positive, regardless of the club or the national team.
"I try to give my best in all the games I play, regardless of the club or the national team I'm representing. My will and my effort will never change what I want to bring to the game."
Fernandes was part of the Portugal side that won the Nations League in 2019, playing 81 minutes in their 1-0 win over the Netherlands in the final.
Many of the players that started the final in Porto remain in the current squad, though head coach Roberto Martinez has shifted to a more youthful approach since.
While Portugal suffered a quarter-final exit to France at Euro 2024, Fernandes is confident the current crop of talent can replicate their Nations League success from five years ago.
"The first difference is that we haven't reached the final four yet. I think all the teams were strong, regardless of the names that came through here and whether they won or stopped winning. I think Portugal has always had a strong team," Fernandes said.
"If we look at the history of our country and football in our country, we had great names and players who always represented the team at the highest level and at the level that is required.
"There are times when you go further and others when you fall by the wayside, others when you win, as happened in 2016 and 2019.
"This team is hungry to repeat this achievement in 2019 because no Portuguese team enters any competition to not win.
"Everyone knows that our ambition is to always win and to win every game, so our ambition now is to win against Poland because we are a team that respects very much what we are going to find as opponents, because we know that our final objective will only come if we manage to win every game."
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