Manchester City have had heroes across the pitch this season but Pep Guardiola’s best business was signing Ederson
Guardiola needed a goalkeeper above all else going into 2017-18 and his decision to sign the ex-Benfica No1 was inspired
MANCHESTER CITY fans have been spoiled for choice when it comes to heroes this season.
The breathtaking finishing of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus. The lightning feet of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane.
The razor sharp brains and deadly deliveries of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva, or the rock solid midfield enforcement of Fernandinho.
Every one of them has their backers. Every one of them has been outstanding – with plenty more besides.
Yet when it comes to the stand-out performer in their stand-out season, one player rarely, if ever, gets a mention.
The man who, for all the superstars at the Etihad, is arguably the best business Pep Guardiola has done.
When Guardiola first arrived, one area he knew needed addressing above most others was goalkeeper.
Joe Hart, for all he was England’s first choice, wasn’t one he fancied, so in came Claudio Bravo – the man who went on to concede six goals from six shots at one stage last term.
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So last summer in came another, a little-known Brazilian from Benfica, for a £35million fee that was a world record for a keeper.
Plenty of eyebrows were raised. After all, Brazil may be known for many things, but outstanding keepers isn’t really one of them.
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When Ederson dashed out, missed both Romelu Lukaku and the ball and United scored in a pre-season Manchester derby in Texas, plenty more eyebrows were raised that day in July.
Here we go again, thought City fans. Pep’s signed a pup, smirked opposition ones. How wrong they all were.
For this season Ederson has been arguably THE most consistent performer in their team of champions.
A man who has brought steel, calm and confidence to the backline. A man who, at one stage went seven games – including an international debut – without conceding.
That run, incidentally, began against Liverpool when Sadio Mane’s boot left him with eight stitches in a facial wound, and flat out for seven minutes.
By then, Ederson’s abilities as a stopper were becoming clear. His bravery was proved beyond doubt four days later, when he was back in the side in a protective cap.
It was his display in another shut-out, beating Chelsea away in September, when City really began to think this was their season.
He made a string of fine stops that day and, one crazy afternoon at Anfield aside, has been pretty faultless ever since.
Confident, calm, commanding – you can’t stress how that last one is to the rest of the defence – and class. Ederson has the lot.
And his ability to pick a pass, short, mid-range or long, is second to no other keeper in the world. The perfect Pep goalkeeper.
After another brilliant display in a February draw at Burnley , when he was pinging passes all over the field on top of his jaw-dropping saves, Sean Dyche summed him up superbly.
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The Clarets boss claimed it was like having Ronald Koeman in goals, he was that good at finding a team-mate.
It’s amazing to think he joined City on the back of just one full season in the Portuguese league at Benfica.
It’s amazing to think how good he will eventually be, bearing in mind he is still only 24.
Oh, and just one thing for Liverpool fans to consider, if they think drawing Roma makes them a shoo-in for the Champions League final.
Ederson won’t even be his county’s first choice in the World Cup finals. That will be Allison, the Roma keeper who looks destined for Real Madrid.
All of a sudden Brazil has become the place to look if you want a top notch No1.