Pep Guardiola has drastically changed football in England since arriving at Manchester City.
Stan Collymore famously told the Spaniard he would not be able to implement his possession-based style in the Premier League, saying: “If he thinks he’s going to turn up and outplay everybody in the Premier League, and that teams like Watford, Leicester, Bournemouth, Southampton and Crystal Palace are going to let his Manchester City side have the ball for 90% of the time and pass pretty patterns around them so they can get a result, then he is absolutely deluded.”
The Spaniard – who memorably replied “Stan Collymore?” when these comments were relayed to him – has managed to achieve this feat, also inspiring other clubs to pass out from the back.
However, there is a more simple tactic Pep Guardiola rarely uses at Manchester City which Sean Dyche has now suggested he should utilise more often.
Sean Dyche hails Ederson’s kicking ability
Speaking to talkSPORT, the man from Kettering said: “They’ve got a keeper by the way, I haven’t forgot that trick. Look, Pep wants to play, but guess what? He got in a keeper who can hit it probably two lengths of a pitch. I’ve never seen a kid who can hit it like that.
“He hits a ball about seven feet in the air, so no-one can reach it, and it goes about 70 yards at seven feet (high) and you think, I’ve never seen anyone kick it like it. Pep realised, if everyone’s pressing us, we need an out.
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“No, they don’t use it all the time, but it’s there if they need it.”
An incredible Ederson assist, a sublime @ErlingHaaland finish! 🍟 pic.twitter.com/inTgnv5til
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 25, 2025
The Brazil international has impressively recorded six assists in his 269 appearances for Manchester City, which is more than some defenders would have managed to register in the same time frame.
Why Ederson is so talented with his feet
The South American actually used to be an outfielder at the start of his career, playing as a left-back before moving in between the sticks.
Ederson – who Guardiola could sell – told Manchester City’s official website: “When I started my career, I was actually a left-back and I do have some qualities playing with my feet, so I think that helps a lot, especially due to the way we play at City… if there was a situation where I was ever needed outfield, yeah, I’d definitely give it a go!”
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Guardiola even once called the Brazilian “our best penalty taker” – so he is clearly an exceptional talent when it comes to using his feet, despite being a goalkeeper by trade.