Manchester City suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, leaving many of their fans frustrated with one particular player’s performance.
The Premier League champions took the lead in the 19th minute when Erling Haaland expertly converted a chance, putting City ahead in a tense first half. Despite Madrid’s pressure, the hosts managed to hold onto their advantage until the break.
However, the Spanish giants found their equalizer in the 60th minute when Kylian Mbappé produced a spectacular acrobatic volley that left City’s goalkeeper, Ederson, with no chance. The momentum of the game shifted, but Manchester City soon regained control.
Just 20 minutes later, Phil Foden was brought down inside the penalty box by Dani Ceballos, resulting in a crucial spot-kick for City. Haaland confidently stepped up to take it and slotted the ball home, restoring their lead at 2-1.
With only a few minutes left on the clock, it seemed as though City would secure the victory, but Real Madrid, known for their resilience in European competitions, responded in dramatic fashion. In the 86th minute, Brahim Diaz found the net, leveling the score at 2-2 and stunning the home crowd.
Then, deep into stoppage time, Jude Bellingham completed the comeback. Vinícius Jr. lifted a precise lob over the advancing Ederson, allowing Bellingham to finish from close range and seal a stunning victory for the visitors.
Following the match, City supporters were quick to single out one player they believed had a particularly poor performance and played a role in Madrid’s winning goal.
At halftime, Pep Guardiola decided to substitute Manuel Akanji, who had been struggling with an injury, and introduced Rico Lewis in his place. However, the 20-year-old fullback struggled to cope with Madrid’s attacking threats. His failure to clear a bouncing ball ultimately allowed Vinícius Jr. to break forward in the build-up to Bellingham’s winner, which frustrated many fans.
Supporters took to social media to voice their opinions on Lewis’ performance, with many criticizing his ability to compete at the highest level. One fan bluntly stated, “Rico Lewis, I swear, they will never ever convince me that you’re good.”
Another echoed similar sentiments, saying, “Rico Lewis is not good enough for the Premier League. Loan him to the Championship.”
A third fan questioned Guardiola’s decision to bring Lewis on instead of another defender, commenting, “Why put on Rico Lewis when Khusanov is a much better defender and offers more pace? Another Pep disaster-class!”
Others agreed that the substitution was a turning point in the game. One supporter argued, “The game was lost when Guardiola decided to bring on Rico Lewis to defend against Vinícius Jr. instead of Khusanov.”
Another fan added, “Honestly, Rico Lewis, I don’t see it.”
Meanwhile, a sixth supporter was even harsher, writing, “Rico Lewis is not Manchester City standard, let’s be real.”
The defeat was a bitter pill for City fans to swallow, especially given how close they were to securing the win. While football is a team game, many supporters believe Lewis’ introduction played a crucial role in their team’s collapse.
