Pep Guardiola hailed Rico Lewis as one of the best players he has ever coached after his starring role in Manchester City's win at RB Leipzig. 

Lewis, 18, produced a commanding display as the Champions League holders maintained their winning start with a 3-1 success at the Red Bull Arena last night. 

The City youth product, who made his first-team breakthrough as a right-back last season, had a hand in Phil Foden's opening goal and proved his side's main driving force throughout. 

Boss Guardiola said: "What a player! What a player!

"I've been a manager for 14, 15 years and lucky to train one of the best players in the world in Barcelona [in Lionel Messi]. 

"To find a player like him [Lewis] playing in the pockets, how he has to move as a holding midfielder, moving in the spaces, he is one of the best I've ever trained by far. 

"He's a humble guy, doesn't talk much. He didn't play much this season but he is going to play a lot."

Despite Lewis' contributions, it took the introduction of subs Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku to secure a hard-fought victory. 

City controlled the first half and led at the break through Foden's 25th-minute strike but they were pegged back after the restart by Lois Openda.

The second half saw Erling Haaland miss several chances and Foden hit the bar before Alvarez netted a stunning effort on 84 minutes, with Doku wrapping up a second successive win in Group G in stoppage time.

Guardiola added: "We played a fantastic game in all departments. When a team is able to make a lot of passes early on, very nice things are going to happen in the game.

“The guys who came from the bench, the contribution they have done is the key point. Everyone helped each other. 

"I am really satisfied. It was a tough game."