Pep Guardiola Blasts Erling Haaland & Man City Stars Citing 18YO Youngster’s Commitment – “We Have The Guy With More Passion and Energy”

If there’s one thing about Manchester City, the team doesn’t know the meaning of giving up! Time after time, the treble champions have shown they can crawl back from almost every challenging situation. A lot of credit for their efforts goes to head coach Pep Guardiola, who has turned the team into one of the best teams in the world. However, turning a team into the best side of the world isn’t a cakewalk. At times, you need to use tough love.

Netflix released a 6 episode docuseries behind the team’s treble-winning campaign earlier today showcasing some of the best moments from the last season. One of the biggest takeaways from the series was that the Spaniard did not shy away from expressing his views inside the dressing room. The team’s clash against Tottenham last season was one for the ages with Spurs taking a 2-0 lead within the first half. Pep Guardiola was having none of it as he questioned the players’ performance while comparing their efforts with 18-year-old star Rico Lewis.

Pep Guardiola stated, “Something is missing. Do I have to tell it? No. In this situation, you have to solve it. Where is your passion? Where is your energy or something inside that says, ‘My friends, I am going to survive.’ Of course, now I’ve proved that you don’t want to win the Premier League. I… absolutely. And I for one [walks over to Rico Lewis]. With 18 years old, we have the guy with more passion and energy to do it. He got ten fouls, and he got up. He fought against Hojbjerg and nobody defended him. The guy wants the ball, he’s aggressive without the ball. You think I give presents? I don’t, my friend, you [Rico] my friend, you deserve it.”

Rico Lewis has surely left his mark for the club with many labeling him the latest gem unearthed at Manchester City. The player since his debut made 45 appearances for the senior team and is in contention for breaking into the first team, with notable senior players on the sidelines with injuries.

Will Pep Guardiola prefer using Rico Lewis over Josko Gvardiol?

Now this is a question that might have plagued Manchester City fans ever since last week. Three of the club’s first-choice defenders have picked up injuries leaving the team in a dearth of defenders. Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Nathan Ake are expected to miss the upcoming games, leaving the team with just Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji in the back line. The absence of his star players could force Guardiola into playing with just three defenders in the back.

READ MORE: Erling Haaland’s Arrival Ignited Huge Overhaul to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City Tactics, As Revealed in Netflix’s ‘Together: Treble Winners’

Rico Lewis, Josko Gvardiol, and Sergio Gomez are the only names who could slot in the position. However, with a 3-man defense requiring more of a central defender, Pep could use Josko Gvardiol over his other teammates. The Croatian has made a great impact signing and adapting to the club’s playstyle this season. However, Rico Lewis’s performance after filling in for Nathan Ake against Arsenal could give Guardiola a lot to think about.

READ MORE: Pep Guardiola Admits Making a Mistake In Manchester City’s UCL Final Loss Vs Chelsea In New Netflix Documentary ‘Together: Treble Winners’