Manchester City’s success is impossible without Ederson but Stefan Ortega is ‘one of the best ever’, says Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has stated that he ‘cannot visualise’ Manchester City’s success over the last years without mainstay first-choice goalkeeper, Ederson.

The Brazilian international came very close to a Manchester City exit over the last summer transfer window, having attracted numerous admirers from within the Saudi Arabian Pro League.

The Premier League champions were not willing to stand in the way of the goalkeeper, providing that an interested club put forward a bid that met their valuation of a player so crucial to their performances.

It is widely understood that Manchester City were demanding a fee in the region of £50 million, however neither of the two senior clubs from within the Pro League came close and as such Ederson has remained within Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Speaking during a recent press conference, Pep Guardiola had high praise for both Ederson and Stefan Ortega, particularly after the Brazilian put in a stellar performance for the club in the 3-2 win over Fulham.

“I’ve said many times, how many years we are together, eight years with Eddie, the success that we had – without him? I cannot visualise. I cannot! He made two incredible saves,” Guardiola said after the victory over Marco Silva’s side.

“I think Stefan (Ortega Moreno), for me, is one of the best players I’ve ever seen one-against-one, these kind of actions. I think working with him, I’m pretty sure that Eddie can get it,” he continued.

“Of course we have with Xabi (Mancisidor) and Richard (Wright), we have unbelievable coaches for the keepers. And he made incredible saves in important moments of the game, definitely. And at the end, the big keepers have to save these kind of actions.

“When we won the Champions League, I remember in certain moments Eddie saved it! And when he didn’t save it, we could not go through. In the moments, the keepers have to make these kind of actions to win games.”

Continuing on the subject of the intense competitive rivalry between Manchester City’s two leading goalkeepers for the starting spot in the Manchester City line-up, Pep Guardiola admitted his belief that the competition between the pairing is only a positive for the side.

“Ederson is so strong, can be in his own idea, but after when he changes his mind in second, he says, ‘OK, I’m here. We’re going to do our best!’ And of course, Ederson is an important player,” Guardiola said.

“But always I had the feeling that Stefan (Ortega Moreno) is an exceptional player, and sometimes Ederson has to have the feeling that you have to play and perform well, otherwise Stefan can play!

“And this competition, healthy competition that they have because they respect and they have an incredible relation, makes our team better.”

It remains to be seen whether either goalkeeper will attract interest in 2025’s summer window, with Saudi Arabia likely to come calling once again for Ederson, and Stefan Ortega expected to assess his future if there is no sign of a number one slot emerging at the Etihad Stadium.