**Ederson has been told by Pep Guardiola what must happen in order for him to take back his starting place from Stefan Ortega in Manchester City’s starting line-up.**
The Germany international shot-stopper made it three consecutive matches in the Premier League in which he has started ahead of Ederson when the club visited Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon.
Unfortunately for Ortega Moreno, it was not to be a second successive clean sheet following on from the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, as Manchester City had to come from behind twice to claim a point against Crystal Palace.
While neither goal can be accredited to an error to the former Arminia Bielefeld goalkeeper, some may be wondering just how much Ederson will have to do in order to reclaim his starting berth in the Premier League.
Speaking prior to the club’s visit to face Crystal Palace at the weekend, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on that very subject, and issued a simple response and instruction to Ederson over his hopes of coming back into the starting line-up.
“He needs the manager to select him. This is what he needs. It’s simple,” Guardiola said. “When we see the line-up and I say, ‘Ederson – my first keeper. Today you play’ – this is what he needs. No more than that.”
Guardiola also reflected on the limited options he once again has in his defence following on from the latest injury sustained by Nathan Ake against Nottingham Forest in midweek, and lingering concerns around Manuel Akanji.
“We lost two holding midfielders for long, and after central defenders for a long time, we didn’t have it. And now, apparently we come back and now we come back again with the problems. I have four defenders for tomorrow (against Crystal Palace), no more than that,” said Guardiola.
“And with the schedule ahead of us, it’s what we have to handle, but it’s an incredible bruise and an incredible challenge to do it.
“We break that bad run, because it’s not easy when you don’t win for a long time, and now we have to try to continue with the players, the spirit, the good spirit that we show, and we’ll see what happens.”
Manchester City now turn their attentions to a trip to face Juventus in the UEFA Champions League as they look to bounce back from a defeat to Sporting in Lisbon and a calamitous 3-3 home draw against Feyenoord on matchday five.