Pep Guardiola praised Manchester City youngster Rico Lewis for "changing the game" as the Premier League champions overcame a poor first half to defeat Chelsea 1-0 on Thursday night.
City were second best for the opening 45 minutes at Stamford Bridge, but were transformed after the break - when 18-year-old Lewis was introduced - and Riyad Mahrez's 63rd-minute goal provided an important victory to their hopes of retaining the title. City now trail leaders Arsenal by five points.
Guardiola's substitution decisions proved vital on Thursday night, with full-back Lewis and Swiss defender Manuel Akanji replacing Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker at halftime, before Jack Grealish and Mahrez were sent on minutes before combining for the match-winning goal.
“All the managers try to make decisions to help the team," Guardiola said. "Sometimes you are losing but the team is playing good and why I should change when I have the feeling they are doing well?
“Today, after 20 minutes, because you have to give them a little bit of time to try, I decided I didn’t like what I was seeing. So why wait? I spoke with (coaches) Rodolfo [Borrell] and Enzo [Maresca], and we said: ‘OK, we have to change something otherwise it would have been more difficult.
“Everyone could see from the first minute of the second half, it was a different Man City."
And it was Academy player Lewis whom Guardiola credited with having the biggest impact on City's improved performance.
"This dynamic from Rico helped everyone to have their freedom," the Spaniard said. "He changed the game from minute one.
"In the first half, everything was sloppy, and we couldn’t keep contact with the wingers or the attacking midfielders and we didn’t create much. Our pressing was so poor, and we were not well organised.
Chelsea v Manchester City player ratings
-
CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga - 6: Dealt with varying crosses from Joao Cancelo and Ilkay Gundogan. A poor throw made things difficult for his team but he soon saved a strong shot from Kevin De Bruyne. Could possibly have done more to reach Jack Grealish’s cross for the goal. AP -
Cesar Azpilicueta - 6: Did a lot of good work to nullify Phil Foden’s threat, including a tackle on the winger near his own box, and also blocked Kevin De Bruyne’s shot well. However, he wasn’t able to stop Grealish getting his cross in for the goal. AFP -
Thiago Silva - 7: Was composed in possession and when called on defensively, while he headed away crosses from Gundogan and Bernardo Silva authoritatively. His shot went agonisingly wide. AFP -
Kalidou Koulibaly - 8: While his unorthodox intervention fortuitously went back to Kepa, Koulibaly often looked solid as he stepped out to stop Cancelo’s run, challenged De Bruyne as he threatened to break through and blocked shots from Cancelo and Bernardo Silva. Booked for blocking off Mahrez. AFP -
Marc Cucurella - 5: Had a great battle with Cancelo and came out of it well, notably tackling the Portuguese in his own box. However, he struggled in the second period and lost Riyad Mahrez for the goal. AFP -
Hakim Ziyech - 6: Showed good intent at times, although his crosses were often dealt with and he played a poor pass to Azpilicueta when there was a chance to break. Reuters -
Denis Zakaria - 7: Moved the ball forward well on various occasions and also helped his team out defensively. Put in a great tackle on Grealish to stop him running through. AP -
Mateo Kovacic - 6: Carried the ball well at times and also defended impressively in the first half, notably putting in a good tackle on Cancelo. Did well to dispossess Silva in his own box but hit a wild shot comfortably over the crossbar, then played a wasteful pass when there was the opportunity to break. Booked for cynically fouling Grealish. AFP -
Raheem Sterling - 5: Was forced off after picking up an injury two minutes into proceedings against his former club. AFP -
Kai Havertz - 6: Took up intelligent positions to help his midfield and also did well to pick out Carney Chukwuemeka. However, there were also times where he could have taken a risk to really challenge City’s defence. Poor touch let him down when the ball fell to him in the box and his header went straight at Ederson. Getty -
Christian Pulisic - 6: Looked bright and took up good positions, while he also challenged Bernardo Silva after Cucurella had conceded possession before his game ended prematurely due to injury. Getty -
SUBS: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Sterling, 6’) - 5: Was able to get into some good positions but lacked a clinical edge, especially when Ziyech delivered a threatening cross. Conceded possession to Erling Haaland early in the second half and struggled to have an impact after that. Getty -
Carney Chukwuemeka (Pulisic, 22’) - 7: Slotted in straight away and took up a good position before seeing his shot blocked by Silva, while another effort struck the post. Made a great burst forward and pass to set up Lewis Hall’s chance. Reuters -
Omari Hutchinson (Aubameyang, 68’) - 5: His decent header set up a chance for Havertz, but he often played safe and then overhit a cross from a promising position. AFP -
Lewis Hall (Cucurella, 68’) - 6: Showed good anticipation to cut out Ederson’s throw and get one of many dangerous crosses into the box, also playing some nice passes to find players in promising positions. Fired his shot off target. Reuters -
Conor Gallagher (Ziyech, 69’) - 7: Showed plenty of drive as he tried to lift Chelsea and get them back into the game, even if he took things a step too far at times. Reuters -
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 6: His superb throw released De Bruyne for a break forward, but he was very lucky that Manuel Akanji dealt with the situation calmly after he’d flown out of his goal. Getty -
Joao Cancelo - 7: Often defended well and showed plenty of intent going forward, delivering crosses and playing an intelligent pass to Gundogan. AFP -
Kyle Walker - 6: Was involved in a mix-up for Pulisic’s chance and threw the ball to Havertz, but also nearly found De Bruyne with a great pass and got a vital touch on Chukwuemeka’s shot to turn it on to the post. Getty -
John Stones - 9: Put in a superb defensive performance, standing up well when Aubameyang threatened to run behind, making a superb tackle on Pulisic and showing composure when Chukwuemeka’s shot came back off the post, as well as touching the ball away following a poor pass from Manuel Akanji. AFP -
Nathan Ake - 7: Put in some good challenges but there were also times where Chelsea were able to progress up the pitch and get behind him in the first half. Made a good tackle on Ziyech to keep the pressure on, then hit the woodwork with a header. Reuters -
Bernardo Silva - 7: Was both busy and composed, delivering some very threatening crosses and doing well to block Chukwuemeka’s shot. EPA -
Rodri - 6: Found things difficult at times as he went between defence and midfield, but he still had some good moments, notably putting in a good tackle to halt Zakaria. Overhit his pass when there was the opportunity to counter. Reuters -
Ilkay Gundogan - 7: Took up some brilliant positions and moved the ball well, notably finding Haaland for the striker’s first chance of the game. Reuters -
Kevin De Bruyne - 7: It took him a while to get going, but the Belgian got into some good positions to let off shots, with one being blocked, another going wide and another being saved by Kepa. Came agonisingly close to setting up Haaland. Reuters -
Erling Haaland - 6: Made some great defensive headers but things didn’t quite go his way in the other box, as he missed the target from a couple of opportunities and couldn’t quite turn De Bruyne’s cross into the net. PA -
Phil Foden - 5: A poor touch let him down when Kovacic conceded possession and he often struggled to get past Azpilicueta’s resolute defending. Reuters -
SUBS: Manuel Akanji (Cancelo, HT) - 7: While a loose pass almost put his team in trouble, the defender cut out Ziyech’s pass well and did brilliantly to sort the situation when Ederson raced out of his goal. AFP -
Rico Lewis (Walker, HT) - 7: Immediately got on the ball and showed plenty of confidence to do things throughout. Also put pressure on Hall when he took his shot. PA -
Riyad Mahrez (Silva, 60’) - 8: Ghosted in and turned the ball into the net having already made things difficult for Cucurella. Showed intelligence in his play after that. Getty -
Jack Grealish (Foden, 60’) - 8: Delivered an absolute peach of a pass to set up Mahrez for the opener and helped his team out defensively, clearing Hall’s cross then making a burst forward to win a free-kick moments later. EPA -
Kalvin Phillips (Rodri, 86’) – N/R: Successfully broke up Chelsea’s play but also struggled to maintain possession himself. Reuters
“In the second half, especially with Manu and Rico – and this young boy has the quality to make us better.
“Everyone can play better, but when [Rico] came in, Rodri played better, Kevin [De Bruyne] played better, and he has the talent to do this.
“Since we have come back, he has been playing for us and he has become fundamental for us, the way he is playing right now.”
Meanwhile, defender John Stones said the win over Chelsea was "just what we needed" as City kept in touch with Arsenal in the title race.
"It's a big three points, especially after the other day. The overriding feeling was we dropped two points and we wanted to put it right," said England defender Stones, who was named Player of the Match.
"Especially, the way we played in the second half was brilliant and to come away with three points is just what we needed.
"We rushed our play in the first half. We tried to play too many crucial passes and didn't retain the ball as well as we can. Credit to Chelsea they were compact and we couldn't get many balls through the lines.
"It all came together in the second half. A few big moments too, blocks and defending. We’ve been working on that in training and it came off today."
City and Chelsea face off again on Sunday in the FA Cup third round.
