"YOU have to make a decision about what kind of player you want to be," admits Rico Lewis, who is at something of a crossroads in his Manchester City career this summer.
It feels like Lewis has been around forever, given how quickly and seamlessly he broke into the team.
But it's easy to forget that the defender is still only 19 years old, the baby of the squad with so many years at the top ahead of him.
Yet he bats off difficult questions about his status in the squad in the same way he bounces off physical midfielders, and in the same nonchalant manner that has characterised his meteoric rise in the last two seasons. If he's under any pressure, he doesn't show it.
Back in the USA 24 months on from the breakout tour that saw him convince Pep Guardiola of his raw quality, Lewis is back stateside this year but with a different point to prove.
Having played such an important role in his debut campaign to help Manchester City win the treble, last season was more difficult. Of just 16 appearances, in the Premier League, he started only eight, split across four different positions.
Now he needs to show Guardiola what he can do all over again this summer, falling down the pecking order in his second season. There have even been some suggestions, externally at least, that Lewis should leave City to get regular football.
But there won't be any drastic changes in his approach, and certainly no thoughts to a transfer.
Lewis has got this far being himself and trusting his own ability. He's not in the mood for stopping now.
"I'm 100 per cent in the right place," he tells UK reporters in North Carolina ahead of City's opening friendly of the summer. "I've got more than enough time to get to the point where I want to be in terms of being a leader or starting most of the games.
Denne historien er fra July 22, 2024-utgaven av Manchester Evening News.
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Denne historien er fra July 22, 2024-utgaven av Manchester Evening News.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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