Pep Guardiola offers initial verdict on Manchester City’s life and system without Rodri | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has offered an initial verdict on life without Rodri in the centre of his midfield after the 1-1 draw against Newcastle on Saturday.

The Premier League champions were presented with their first task during life without their defensive midfield mainstay, and for the most part of Saturday’s encounter in the north-east, looked relatively comfortable in controlling proceedings.

Josko Gvardiol gave Manchester City the lead after interchanging with Jack Grealish in one of his many marauding runs from the left-back role, before a second-half penalty would be dispatched by Anthony Gordon to level the game.

The starting line-up gave supporters a first indication as to how Manchester City could look without Rodri at some points this season, with Manuel Akanji supporting Mateo Kovacic in defensive midfield, enabling Rico Lewis to venture forward into attacking positions.

Quizzed after the contest on how he felt the midfield combination of Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovacic specifically performed during the 1-1 draw at St James’ Park, Pep Guardiola was keen to praise the duo alongside a further name.

“They played really good; Mateo [Kovacic] was brilliant, Rico [Lewis] as well, and Bernardo [Silva] when he played in that position,” Pep Guardiola told broadcasters after the game. “They played really good!”

Continuing on the subject of 19-year-old talent Rico Lewis, Pep Guardiola explained, “We don’t have to talk much about what we have to do because he’s so smart and intelligent.

“Football is a movement game, and how you decide in all the actions depends on the intelligence of the player. Sometimes you need to be more structured to say you have to do this and that, no more information.

“But Rico reads perfectly what we have to do. Of course he’s young, he will improve, he’s 19-years-old, but he played again exceptionally well, he’s really good in small spaces. He played really, really good again.”

Manchester City will be granted with a further opportunity to test themselves in central areas almost immediately, as they travel to Slovakia on Tuesday night for matchday two of the UEFA Champions League against Slovan Bratislava.

Fulham are the next side to compete with the reigning champions in the Premier League, with Marco Silva’s side visiting the Etihad Stadium next weekend in the traditional Saturday 3PM kick-off slot.