Instead of a routine press conference after a fun, but run-of-the-mill pre-season friendly, Man City manager Pep Guardiola decided to drop a bombshell.
Ederson, we now know, is considering his options after seven years at the club. Guardiola says he wants him to stay.
When City sanction big-name departures, it’s usually because there’s someone ready to take over the mantle, or they can’t get guaranteed starts anymore – is that really the case with Ederson though?
It means Stefan Ortega will play out the rest of this US Tour with a shot at starting the season as the main man between the sticks. It’s a good job the club tied him down to a new contract after his impressive end to the previous campaign.
Ortega is arguably the best backup in the Premier League, but it means City will have a lot more questions and scrutiny about the keeper position until the Premier League season kicks off.
Scott Carson is the other senior keeper on the books and he’s only had one Premier League start in 13 years. If Ederson leaves, who’s the man to replace him and can he have the same impact the Brazilian has? It will be a talking point all tour.
As for City’s first game of pre-season, it was difficult for the fringe players to make their case for first-team selection.
The heat and humidity in Chapel Hill, North Carolina was sapping, but it won’t be used as excuse for some sloppiness from City’s young back line in the first half.
Kalvin Phillips started, only to come off at half-time. The midfielder has looked sharp in training and is clearly loved by his senior team-mates, but his future at the club remains bleak.
Guardiola admitted after the game he doesn’t know what will happen with him either. It seems City are waiting for other clubs to pick up the phone.
“We’ll see,” said Guardiola. “He’s training really well, he made a really good first half against Celtic. He came from an injury, that’s why we didn’t want to give him more minutes. But we’ll see, he knows the situation.”
The City boss also talked before the match about how James McAtee, back from a loan spell at Sheffield United, has impressed him by growing up as a player.
The 21-year-old started, flashed some skill at times, although failed to run the game as he’d like. He’s another that faces a big few weeks in the States.
The manager is talking about him, so does he stay for one more window and try to break into the team or back himself like Cole Palmer to become a star elsewhere?
All of a sudden, there’s more riding on City’s time in the Stateside than first thought.
Is Ortega ready to take the No 1 spot?
Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones:
“It was a save with such match-winning connotations that it made Pep Guardiola fall to the floor.
“Stefan Ortega – the man in the shadow of Ederson for so long – stepped up by denying Heung-Min Son in a one-on-one duel that proved a decisive moment in Man City’s unprecedented fourth straight Premier League title. Son raced goalwards and had only Ortega – who replaced the injured Ederson earlier in the second half – to beat. With the goal at his mercy, Son’s shot was brilliantly saved by Ortega, before Erling Haaland scored his second goal of the game from the penalty spot just minutes later to secure a vital three points.
“Ortega saved the actions, otherwise Arsenal is champion,” conceded Guardiola. “That is the reality in modern football. The margins are so, so tight.”
“Perhaps that moment is why Guardiola is relaxed about Ederson’s future. With no noises emerging regarding City looking to use the transfer market to recruit a goalkeeper, in the eyes of Guardiola, Ortega could be the natural replacement. In 632 minutes of Premier League action last season, Ortega’s numbers stood strong up against Ederson, bettering his team-mate in key metrics like saves-per-90 and goals prevented according to expected goals.
“City could need freshening up in the defensive department.
“Despite edging out Arsenal in the title race, City’s expected goals against figure of 35.9 and shots on target faced data (111) were the most they’ve shipped since the 19/20 season. Opposition teams who counter attacked with precision did find ways to break through.
“Although it didn’t stop the City juggernaut rolling on, that moment with Son did show that even another slight regression next season in the City ranks will leave them vulnerable to the chasing pack.
“Perhaps replacing Ederson is Guardiola’s game-changing plan?”
The 2024 summer transfer window officially closes on August 30 at 11pm UK time in the Premier League and 11.30pm in Scotland.
The Premier League has brought forward Deadline Day to link up with the other major leagues in Europe. The closing dates were set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.