In Pep Guardiola’s squad of world-renowned superstars, Manchester City’s unsung hero and driving force in this year’s title win was Rico Lewis — an 18-year-old plucked off the academy production line, with no first-team experience before this season.
‘Some players here have won five Premier League titles,’ said Guardiola at the turn of the year.
‘Why in your mind should you fight again? That’s why we need Rico. For him it’s, “Wow, it’s new, I want to play, I want to win a Premier League”. This energy is contagious.’
That statement was telling.