Rico Lewis: AEK Athens win massive for my confidence

Rico Lewis said Tuesday's 5-1 Champions League victory over AEK Athens gave his confidence a significant boost after completing the full 90 minutes at the Etihad Stadium.

The 21-year-old versatile full-back set up two of Phil Foden's three goals in a clinical display from Enzo Maresca's side, with Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki also on the scoresheet.

"It's massive. For me obviously I've not had much time on the pitch," Lewis said after the game. "When you get thrown into a game, you kind of get worked up about doing well, but I just thought to play my game and everything will come after."

"It helps when you're two or three goals up, because you can relax and almost wish you can play with that confidence from the start of the game," he added. "When you get that success you get more comfortable. That just comes with the result of the game."

Lewis has made four appearances across all competitions this season and reflected positively on life under Maresca, whom he knew from a previous spell at the club.

"I obviously knew him from when he was here for the Treble season," Lewis said. "Everything is clear. Everyone knows the idea and when everyone knows the idea and is on board, it makes it 100 times easier."

Manchester City sit top of the league with seven wins from seven games this season, and Lewis said the team's collective understanding is translating onto the pitch. "Everything is going smoothly right now," he concluded.