Pep Guardiola is changing his goalkeeping options.placeholder image
Pep Guardiola is changing his goalkeeping options. | Getty Images
Man City could make one final big signing after Faabrizio Romano’s latest transfer report.
Manchester City were one of the more proactive teams in this summer’s transfer window with Pep Guardiola getting most of his work done early.
The reality is, the work for this season began in January when an ageing squad was addressed and a new youthful look was brought to a team that had won everything. With the clock ticking, it looks like there will be more departures than arrivals with Crystal Palace among several clubs wanting Manuel Akanji. The one position that could see a blockbuster arrival is in between the sticks.
Man City agree Fenerbahce deal to sell Ederson
James Trafford’s arrival looked to put to bed any thoughts of Ederson being replaced by a more experienced No.1 with amid links to Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Ederson’s fall off is one that should be studied because at 32-years old he should be hitting his peak at a goalkeeper. Almost since the day that he walked through the doors at the Etihad, he has had claim to being the best in the world only for individual errors and injury issues to affect his game last season. Recurring hip and groin problems perhaps the underlying reason why Guardiola has decided to start afresh.
Did Ederson hint at his own reason for drop off in form?
The problem with Ederson might be physically, however, in an interview with Sky Sports in 2023, the player himself perhaps suggested another reason why Guardiola might be wanting to head in another direction: "I see many teams that are able to win important titles, whether internationally or in Europe, but then afterwards they find it more difficult to maintain the level," he said. What we have is Pep, who is pushing us a lot every day to say, 'OK, we have won the Champions League, we have won five Premier Leagues, but how can we get better? How can we improve?'
"He is always wanting more from us and, as a group, we are always working a lot and dedicating ourselves to improving and continuing the work we have already done. When teams win trophies and then fall off, it's very, very difficult to get back up again. We are looking for that stability to stay at the top. Most importantly of all, though, this is about the mentality that we've been able to create through the whole club, throughout the players, to be able to keep our focus, year after year, looking for titles, and also show this maturity that we have created."
Maybe, Ederson is simply no long capable of maintaining the levels that Pep demands, however, this shouldn’t diminish just how pivotal he has been in the club’s most successful era. For his Champions League heroics alone, his place as the club’s best isn’t really up for debate.
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