In a dazzling display against Newcastle, Ederson silenced his critics and proved that Pep Guardiola’s decision to keep him was spot on.
Moreover, his performance reignited hope among City fans who had grown anxious over his inconsistent run. Clearly, this match might just mark the turning point for the Brazilian goalkeeper.
During the January transfer window, Manchester City explored numerous options. They bolstered their squad by signing Nico Gonzalez on deadline day to address the central midfield deficit. Additionally, they secured two new defenders and even eyed a forward to ease the scoring pressure off Erling Haaland. Yet, intriguingly, a potential new goalkeeper was also on the radar—a move Guardiola ultimately chose not to make.
In that critical Newcastle clash, Ederson orchestrated a moment of brilliance. He delivered a perfectly weighted long ball that found Omar Marmoush, who charged forward and scored. Remarkably, this assist marked his sixth league contribution—the highest ever recorded by a City goalkeeper. Furthermore, he has already registered three assists this season alone, underlining his pivotal role in the team’s attack.
Pep Guardiola has always valued Ederson’s exceptional distribution. While on tour in America, the manager had a candid heart-to-heart with the keeper, urging him to stay instead of considering a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia. Notably, Ederson arrived from Benfica, where he earned the nickname “the bull,” and Guardiola was not ready to part ways with such a dynamic talent.
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Despite his undeniable skill, Ederson’s season has been a rollercoaster. He has been in and out of the starting eleven, and some critics argued he wasn’t consistently performing. For instance, a run-in earlier in the season even saw Stefan Ortega step up with a season-defining save at Tottenham Hotspur. Nevertheless, his commanding display against Newcastle might finally reestablish his position as City’s undisputed number one.
Guardiola would never introduce a goalkeeper with inferior footwork at this late stage, and yet, Ederson has battled through a nagging muscle issue that has hampered his training. In addition, Manchester City have managed only five clean sheets in 25 league games, with three of those coming against teams like Salford City, Ipswich Town, and Leicester City. Consequently, his performance reflects not only his own form but also the broader defensive challenges facing the team.
Meanwhile, City have conceded 35 league goals—a statistic that no other season under Guardiola has matched. Although the goalkeeping cannot shoulder all the blame, the numbers speak volumes. Furthermore, both Ederson and Ortega share a joint ranking of 17th in the division for save percentage, at 63%, alongside Andre Onana. Therefore, the lack of a stable back four continues to undermine City’s overall solidity.
Ultimately, Guardiola stuck with Ederson through four consecutive defeats and even after a dramatic collapse against Feyenoord. Subsequently, Ortega was given a chance at Liverpool, while Ederson returned only to falter against Manchester United in December. Notably, he missed four games over Christmas due to injury. However, his stellar performance against Newcastle now offers a glimmer of hope, and Guardiola is optimistic that this match signals the beginning of a return to normality for both Ederson and Manchester City.
