Lewis: Maresca and Guardiola are very similar; some players leave, some stay, that's football

Manchester City defender Rico Lewis attended a press conference to answer media questions ahead of the pre-season friendly against Atlético Madrid.

Hi, Rico. Maresca is sitting right next to you, so it might be a bit difficult to answer, but what is he like as a head coach? How does he interact with you in training and in the locker room? What has shaped his current coaching style?

Yes, I can give you my personal opinion. Obviously, I've known him since the treble-winning season, and many players also know him. From the first week, we knew what kind of person he was. He is very direct, very clear, and very honest. He implements this both in the locker room and in training sessions. Everything is very clear – the tactical routines and how he wants us to work. So as a player, I think having a clear path and a clear understanding of what you need to do and what the head coach expects of you is very important. That has been the case so far.

Hi, Rico. Although it's only been a few weeks, how does pre-season under Enzo compare to what you experienced under Pep in the past?

I'm not too sure. I think from a football perspective, in terms of getting fit and familiarizing ourselves with tactical routines, there isn't much difference. I feel they are very similar. As I said before, he is a new coach and he wants us to grasp new tactical concepts. Once we start, we have to implement them on the pitch, as you've seen in the games. So it's quite similar to the past. But indeed, we've been training very hard, and the process has been enjoyable.

Hi, Rico. Since Maresca arrived, the treble-winning team has lost quite a few players. In some ways, do you now feel like you're one of the more senior players?

Yes, it does feel a bit strange. I'm obviously still very young, but with some people leaving, I do feel that to a certain extent. However, you know, that's part of football. Some people leave, some people come, and some people stay. But I'm still looking forward to the new season.

Hi, Rico. Last night there were reports that Barcelona are interested in Rodri, and he might be heading to Spain. Obviously, the players all want him to stay. But can you tell us how important a player he has been for Manchester City over the years?

Yes, I don't think I need to say much. I think the whole world knows what a great player Rodri is. But as I said before, that's football. Some people leave, some people stay. Obviously, I don't know all the details, but it's football after all. And I don't think that changes what the head coach or anyone else wants to do here. I think everyone knows how good he is, and his accolades prove it. However, we'll wait and see.

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