Rico Lewis has called on his Manchester City team-mates to 'stick together' following their sixth Premier League defeat of the season against Aston Villa.
City's latest loss came at the hands of Aston Villa, who ran out 2-1 winners over the current champions to hand them a ninth loss from their last 12 matches in all competitions.
Pep Guardiola's side went behind courtesy of goals from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers, with Phil Foden's last-minute consolation not enough to rescue anything from another sub-par performance.
City have already lost twice as many league games this term as they did throughout the whole of last season on their way to winning a fourth successive title.
Lewis, 20, admitted it is 'difficult' times at City right now.
He said: 'There's leaders in the dressing room that are natural leaders. They can speak, everyone listens and everyone agrees.
'But when it comes down to it, it's not what is said in the changing room, it's affecting the pitch and what we're doing on the pitch. That's what needs to be solved.
'Nobody is going onto the pitch saying 'I'm not doing that', or 'I don't want to win'. It's difficult right now but we have to stick together.
'There's different things to put your finger on but it's just not right at the moment.'
City's problems at the back are continuing to grow – they have only managed one clean sheet in their last 10 in all competitions.
Conceding twice on Saturday took their season tally to 25, only nine short of their total throughout the 2023-24 Premier League campaign.
Lewis added: 'It's like when we concede we're not allowed to concede. As if it's not a normal thing that's part of the game.
'Everyone in world football concedes a goal but because we hold ourselves to such high standards, when we concede we're so disappointed in ourselves, that's when you'll see more mistakes come.
'At the start of the season we conceded a few goals first but we just bounced back straight away. That can be down to confidence, many things, tired legs. But we need to get back to the way we want to be.'
Meeekmou
0
This Rico the most i hate to see he play..City should kick him away
OneLove⚽️
1
Remove gundogan and put de=brayne
Can do that also and Bernardo as RW it all depends on tactics👍🏼
Lahcdknptu
0
U guys are very stupid
Mel7
0
Rico a very very useless player i really dot get it why he gets to the lineup, this boy is our downfall
Are you kidding me? You gonna call on Rico like that wen you have old Walker, Nunes, B. Silva, Gundo, Kovacic and even Ederson doing nothing on the pitch???
Bieacdmpst
0
Pep should go back to his 433/451 formation with Foden and Gundogan running through the middle into the box when attacking#KDB who should assist Haaland.
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Remove gundogan and put de=brayne
Tindekmpu
0
Barcelona
tampumi
1
Rico a very very useless player i really dot get it why he gets to the lineup, this boy is our downfall
tampumi
0
him self Lewis is the one who doesn't know soccer no matter hoe Pep favours him .he just run around the whole pitch . pointing other player to cover the space . useless player indeed
Very useless boy
tampumi
0
After your kiddish performances? you're one of the reasons city is suffering, guardiola should limit the number of English kids on the squad!
I concur, the boy doesn't play as a professional footballer i dnt know why Pep trusts him nd because of his trust in him i won't mind if Pep resigns
tampumi
0
you're not playing good Rico, stay in the defensive mind and leave attacking alone.
A very clueless player yhu i really dont want to see him in the field
Seddekoprt
1
you're not playing good Rico, stay in the defensive mind and leave attacking alone.
tinomukutafy
0
After your kiddish performances? you're one of the reasons city is suffering, guardiola should limit the number of English kids on the squad!
I totally disagree with you on this
Boller
1
After your kiddish performances? you're one of the reasons city is suffering, guardiola should limit the number of English kids on the squad!
very true man I don't know what this boy fed Pep for him to have this trust even when he contributes nothing to the team. Ederson, walker and Lewis must all be dropped
truthisbitter
3
After your kiddish performances? you're one of the reasons city is suffering, guardiola should limit the number of English kids on the squad!
mezbikmsy
1
I love this
Gajaak
5
Rico need to improve, i feel bad when i see him running around like a headless chicken with the ball and without..
daeaikmps
0
These things happens when there is Leap Yr don't be alarmed just ride out the storm healthy
yezalors
0
that's true my son
NCIL
0
win matches first
OneLove⚽️
2
Pep should go back to his 433/451 formation with Foden and Gundogan running through the middle into the box when attacking#KDB who should assist Haaland.
lidikmnotu
1
him self Lewis is the one who doesn't know soccer no matter hoe Pep favours him .he just run around the whole pitch . pointing other player to cover the space . useless player indeed
U.S.A2460725
0
Man City must play with intensity. Unfortunately they play tango instead of rock and roll.
pudklnrt
0
But you don’t have to stick with yellow card Mr Lewis
Lewis. yellow or no yellow togetherness is important
Vudbmopsuy
0
Pep must go back to the drawing board and see see what City players continue to wrong because they are not doing many things right
Belatsch
0
But you don’t have to stick with yellow card Mr Lewis